What does stud mean?
A stud is most commonly a small metal fastener, as on a leather jacket, pair of boots, or piece of furniture. By extension, the word can refer to the fastener itself: these garments may be described as studded, and the process of attaching the studs is called studding. Stud also has long-standing equestrian meanings. A stud is a male horse kept for breeding, while a stud farm is a place where such horses are maintained. In card games, “stud” names a family of poker variants in which some cards remain face down; “stud poker” specifically refers to five-card stud. In informal English, the word can also denote a man regarded as sexually attractive, although this use may sound objectifying. The word therefore connects everyday clothing terminology with established traditions of horse breeding and gambling.
A small projecting metal fastener, especially one used to secure clothing or leather. The noun also denotes a male breeding horse, a stud farm, and a card game in which some cards are dealt face down.
"A silver stud had come loose from the collar."
The breeding-horse and card-game senses are standard British and American English. The informal sense of an attractive or successful man is potentially objectifying.
To attach or decorate something with studs; to cover an object with small projecting metal fasteners.
"The artist studded the old jacket with brass fittings."
Designated or equipped for breeding, especially a male horse; decorated with studs.
"The stud farm stood beyond the village."
The usual plural when referring to multiple fasteners, decorative metal pieces, or male breeding horses.
"The shield was decorated with silver studs."
One compact word has carried everything from a gleaming jacket fastener to the stud farm, where future champions begin.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stud come from?
The word descends from Old English studu, meaning a male horse or stallion, and its equestrian senses developed from that older noun. The sense “a small projecting fastener” arose independently by shortening the earlier term stud-fastener, a metal stud used to hold things together. Modern clothing, fastening, stud-farm, and card-game senses all developed from these older uses.
Related word forms
How stud is actually used
In the sense of a breeding male horse, “stud” is standard in British and American English. In the informal sense of a sexually attractive or successful man, it may be perceived as objectifying or coarse depending on context.
Easily confused with stud
A stud is a small fastener or a male horse, whereas stuns is the third-person singular form of stun, meaning to make someone or something unconscious or overcome with surprise.