stubble
UK: ˈstʌb.əl | US: ˈstʌb.əl
n. the short, stiff stalks of grain or other plants left in the ground after harvesting
n. short, coarse hair growing on a man’s face when he has not shaved recently
stubble = stubb<stump> + le<diminutive or repetitive suffix>
- stubb (from Old English stybb, meaning "stump" or "remaining part of a cut plant")
- le (a suffix often used in Old and Middle English to form nouns, sometimes indicating repetition or smallness)
Etymology Origin:
The word "stubble" traces back to Old English stybb, referring to the stump of a tree or plant. Over time, it evolved to describe the short, stiff remains of crops left after harvesting. The suffix "-le" likely reinforced the idea of smallness or repetition, emphasizing the fragmented nature of the leftover stalks. By the 14th century, it also began describing unshaven facial hair, drawing a visual analogy to the rough, uneven appearance of harvested fields.
The farmer plowed the stubble back into the soil to enrich it for the next planting.
He rubbed his chin, feeling the rough stubble after three days without shaving.
The field was covered in golden stubble after the wheat harvest.
Morning light glinted off the frost-covered stubble in the empty fields.
She preferred the look of stubble on his face over a clean-shaven appearance.