Stud the Fastener and Stud the Horses Are Different Words
A stud is a small fastener or post. A separate stud is a place where horses are bred.
A stud is a small fastener or projecting knob, and also an upright timber in a wall. A separate *stud* is an establishment where horses are kept for breeding, from Old English *stod*, related to *stand* and to *steed*. That word gives *stud farm* and, by transfer, the slang use for a man regarded as sexually impressive. In building, *stud* walls take their name from the vertical timbers, and finding the stud behind plasterboard is the first step of hanging anything heavy.
- A small fastener. *An earring stud.*
- An upright timber. *A stud wall.*
- A breeding establishment. *A stud farm.*
- Steed — a relative. *A steed.*
- Old English — *studu* and *stod*. *Two sources.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | stud | A stud. |
| Plural | studs | Studs. |
| Verb | stud | Studded. |
| Compound | stud farm | A stud farm. |
| Related | steed | A steed. |
- A diamond stud.Jewellery.
- Find the wall stud.Building.
- He stands at stud.Breeding.
Stud wall construction
- Vertical timbers called studs form the frame
- Usually spaced 400 or 600 millimetres apart
- Plasterboard is fixed to them on both faces
- Noggins are short horizontal braces between studs
- Heavy fixings must reach a stud, not just the board
The fastener is Old English *studu*, a post. The breeding sense is Old English *stod*, related to *stand* and *steed*.
Are the two studs related?
No. The post and fastener come from one Old English word, the horse-breeding sense from another related to stand and steed.
What is a stud wall?
A wall built from vertical timber studs covered with plasterboard, rather than from solid masonry.