stud English · revision 39886

+ English has two nouns spelled ''stud'' with separate Old English origins: one meaning a post or knob, from ''studu'', and one meaning a place where horses are bred, from ''stōd''.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Ayto 2005)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /stʌd/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ {{homograph|1|post, knob}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Old English|origins=gem-pro *stuþs}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|stode]], [[inh|ang|studu|t=pillar, prop, post]],^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) [[inh|gem-pro|*stuþs]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Its cognates are [[gmh|stud|t=post, prop]], [[non|stoð|t=post]], [[sv|stöd|t=support]] and [[da|stød]],^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) and it is related to [[de|stützen|t=to prop, support]].^(ODE 2010)^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986) The OED compares [[lv|stute|t=support, pole]] and takes the word from a suffixed form of the Indo-European base of [[stow]];^(OED 2026) Etymonline and Merriam-Webster also connect it with [[m|ang|stōw|t=place]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988) and the AHD and Etymonline with the root [[ine-pro|*steh₂-|t=to stand]].^(AHD 2024)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A wooden post or upright prop: Old English, in the translation of Bede's ''Ecclesiastical History'';^(OED 2026) Barnhart dates the Old English word to about 850.^(Barnhart 1988) Middle English used it for one of the upright timbers of a wall, as in ''studewerk'' (1277).^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The upright timbers of a timber-framed wall remained the main sense,^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002) and in North America the word was used from 1647 for the height of a room from floor to ceiling, a use later found in New Zealand.^(OED 2026) Figuratively a person could be the ''stud'' or support of an institution (before 1500 to 1652),^(OED 2026) and in East Anglia and Kent dialect it still meant a prop or support, for example the feet of a trug basket.^(Wright 1898) The sense "ornamental knob of metal on a belt or bridle" appears in 1420,^(OED 2026)^(Hoad 1986) and led to "any boss or nail head projecting from a surface";^(OED 2026)^(Weekley 1921) Johnson (1755) defined it as a nail with a large head driven for ornament.^(Johnson 1755) A detachable button for a shirt front or collar is recorded from the 16th century.^(Hoad 1986) The verb, to build with studs, dates from 1448,^(OED 2026) and "to set with studs" from 1570, with Barnhart dating it from 1505–06;^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1995) the extended "to dot or scatter over", as in ''studded with'', is found from before 1635,^(OED 2026) with Etymonline dating the general use by 1790.^(Etymonline) Since 1849 a ''stud'' has also been the crossbar in a link of chain cable.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 850 – ''studu'', a post or prop.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1277 – ''studewerk'', upright timbers.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1420 – an ornamental metal knob.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1448 – verb, to build with studs.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1570 – verb, to ornament with studs.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1647 – (North America) the height of a room.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1849 – (nautical) the crossbar of a chain link.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A knob, [[rivet]] or large-headed [[nail]] that projects from a surface, especially for [[decoration]].^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # A small [[earring]] on a short post passed through the ear.^(Chambers 2008)^(AHD 2024)

+ # A two-headed fastener used to fix a [[collar]] or shirt front.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # One of the small projections on the sole of a sports boot, giving better [[grip]].^(Collins 2023)

+ # One of the upright [[timber]] or metal posts in the frame of a wall.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To decorate, cover or fit with studs: ''a leather jacket studded with brass''.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # To dot or scatter over a surface: ''a coastline studded with small harbours''.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+

+ {{homograph|2|horses kept for breeding}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Old English|origins=gem-pro *stōdą}}

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+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|stod]], [[inh|ang|stōd|t=stud, herd of horses]],^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) [[inh|gem-pro|*stōdą]].^(Etymonline)^(Kroonen 2013)^(Orel 2003) Its cognates are [[gml|stōt]], [[goh|stuot|t=herd of horses]], [[non|stóð]] and [[nl|stoet|t=procession, retinue]], and the same word gave [[de|Stute|t=mare]].^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(Kroonen 2013)^(SOED 2002) Outside Germanic it is close to [[cu|стадо|tr=stado|t=herd, flock]] and [[lt|stodas|t=flock of horses]].^(Kroonen 2013)^(Klein 1966)^(Orel 2003) Kroonen derives the group from the root [[ine-pro|*steh₂-|t=to stand]] with a noun suffix,^(Kroonen 2013) and Klein and Ayto explain the original sense as "a standing place for horses";^(Klein 1966)^(Ayto 2005) the word is related to [[stand]] and [[steed]].^(SOED 2002)^(Ayto 2005)^(Weekley 1921)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A place where horses are kept for breeding, or the horses kept there: Old English, in the will of Ælfhelm,^(OED 2026) and about 1000 in Ælfric's ''Glossary''.^(Barnhart 1988) In Middle English ''stod meare'' was a brood mare (probably before 1200).^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle English the word could also mean horses in general (?1316–1500) and a breed or race of animals or people (?c1335–1750),^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002) and in Scots a single brood mare.^(OED 2026) From the 17th century it named the horses bred by or belonging to one owner (before 1661), and figuratively a group of people working for someone (before 1625).^(OED 2026)^(Hoad 1986) Use for a single stallion is first American (1803), and for other male breeding animals dates from 1911.^(OED 2026) ''Stud poker'', a game in which some cards are dealt face up, is recorded from 1884.^(OED 2026)^(Collins 2023) The slang sense, a man noted for his sexual prowess, is first recorded in an East Anglian glossary of 1895,^(OED 2026)^(Wright 1898) and in American usage, especially African American, it also meant simply "a man, a guy" from 1909.^(OED 2026)^(GDoS) American slang also used ''stud'' as an adjective meaning "excellent" from 1903.^(GDoS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Old English – a stud of horses.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1200 – ''stod meare'', a brood mare.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1661 – the horses of one owner.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1803 – (US) a stallion.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1884 – (cards) stud poker.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1895 – (slang) a sexually successful man.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1909 – (US slang) a man, a guy.^(OED 2026)^(GDoS)

+ * 1911 – any male animal kept for breeding.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A farm or [[establishment]] where [[horse]]s or other animals are kept for [[breeding]]; also the animals kept there.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+ # A [[stallion]] or other male animal kept for breeding: ''The colt was retired to stud.''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # (slang) A man regarded as sexually attractive or active.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)^(GDoS)

+ # Short for [[stud poker]].^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[stand]]

+ * [[stow]]

+ * [[steed]]

+ * [[stud poker]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}