stud

stud¹

/stud/, n., v., studded, studding, adj.

n.

1. a boss, knob, nailhead, or other protuberance projecting from a surface or part, esp. as an ornament.

2. any of various buttonlike, usually ornamental objects, mounted on a shank that is passed through an article of clothing to fasten it: a collar stud.

3. any of a number of slender, upright members of wood, steel, etc., forming the frame of a wall or partition and covered with plasterwork, siding, etc.

4. any of various projecting pins, lugs, or the like, on machines or other implements.

5. Auto. any of a large number of small projecting lugs embedded in an automobile tire (studded tire) to improve traction on snowy or icy roads.

6. an earring consisting of a small, buttonlike ornament mounted on a metal post designed to pass through a pierced ear lobe.

7. Horol. the piece to which the fixed end of a hairspring is attached.

v.t.

8. to set with or as if with studs, bosses, or the like: The leather-covered door was studded with brass nails.

9. (of things) to be scattered over the expanse or surface of: Stars stud the sky.

10. to set or scatter (objects) at intervals over an expanse or surface: to stud raisins over a cake.

11. to furnish with or support by studs.

adj.

12. ornamented with rivets, nailheads, or other buttonlike, usually metallic objects: a stud belt.

[bef. 900; ME stude knob, post, OE studu post; c. MHG stud, ON stoth post]

stud²

/stud/, n.

1. a studhorse or stallion.

2. an establishment, as a farm, in which horses are kept for breeding.

3. a number of horses, usually for racing or hunting, bred or kept by one owner.

4. a male animal, as a bull or ram, kept for breeding.

5. a herd of animals kept for breeding.

6. Slang. a man, esp. one who is notably virile and sexually active.

7. Poker. See stud poker.

8. at or in stud, (of a male animal) offered for the purpose of breeding.

adj.

9. of, associated with, or pertaining to a studhorse or studhorses.

10. retained for breeding purposes.

[bef. 1000; 1920-25 for def. 6; ME; OE stod; c. ON stoth; akin to STAND]

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