stud

Etymology 1

From Middle English stood, stod, from Old English stōd, from Proto-West Germanic *stōd, from Proto-Germanic *stōdą. Cognate with Middle Low German stōt, German Stute, Dutch stoet and Old Norse stóð.

noun

1. A male animal, especially a stud horse (stallion), kept for breeding.
2. A female animal, especially a studmare (broodmare), kept for breeding.
3. (by extension, collective) A group of such animals, also of locomotives.
   In freight working a considerable stud of ex-N.E.R. 3-cylinder 4-6-0s of Class "B16" is used, some of which include the Thompson modifications to the front end. 1949 November and December, O. S. Nock, “Twenty-Four Hours at York—2”, in Railway Magazine, page 358
   At that time, therefore, L.M.S. motive power for the increased loads of the Birmingham trains was less than adequate, whereas the G.W.R. route had an ample stud of Churchward and Collett 4-6-0s, and timekeeping was good. 1960 February, R. C. Riley, “The London-Birmingham services - Past, Present and Future”, in Trains Illustrated, page 98
4. An animal (usually livestock) that has been registered and is retained for breeding.
5. A place, such as a ranch, where such animals are kept.
   In the studs of persons of quality in Ireland, where care is taken, […]we see horses bred of excellent shape, vigour, and size. 1673, Sir William Temple, 1st Baronet, An Essay upon the Advancement of Trade in Ireland
6. (colloquial) A sexually attractive male.
   Well, I'll tell you the truth now. I ain't a for-real cowboy, but I am one hell of a stud! 1969, Waldo Salt, Midnight Cowboy, spoken by Joe Buck (Jon Voight)
   Maverick, you big stud… Take me to bed or lose me forever. 1986, Jim Cash, Jack Epps Jr., Top Gun (motion picture), spoken by Charlie (Kelly McGillis)
   Wow, Julia! Sounds like to me like you got your pick of any man in this room to dance with so I want you to take your time and find amongst all these young studs here tonight the coolest, most un-losery guy in the bunch 1998, Tim Herlihy, The Wedding Singer, spoken by Robbie Hart (Adam Sandler)
   Those soap-opera studs and studettes sliding between satin sheets in the afternoon? December 16, 1999, Mark Wolf, “The V-chip has arrived with little fanfare”, in The Coshocton Tribune
7. (LGBT, slang) A sexually dominant lesbian, chiefly African-American.

Etymology 2

From Old English studu.

noun

1. A small object that protrudes from something; an ornamental knob.
   a collar with studs
2. (jewelry) A style of earring where the decorative element is mounted on a straight post.
   She's wearing studs in her ears.
3. (construction) A vertical post, especially one of the small uprights in the framing for lath and plaster partitions, and furring, and upon which the laths are nailed.
4. (obsolete) A stem; a trunk.
5. (poker) A type of poker where an individual cannot throw cards away and some of her cards are exposed.
   At an old saloon on a street of mud / There at a table, dealing stud / Sat the dirty, mangy dog that named me "Sue" 1969, Shel Silverstein (lyrics and music), “A Boy Named Sue”, performed by Johnny Cash
6. (engineering) A short rod or pin, fixed in and projecting from something, and sometimes forming a journal.
7. (engineering) A stud bolt.
8. An iron brace across the shorter diameter of the link of a chain cable.

verb

1. To set with studs; to furnish with studs.
2. To be scattered over the surface of (something) at intervals.
   [S]eemingly countless young hot stars stud the entire huge central region[.] 2012, Antony Cooke, Dark Nebulae, Dark Lanes, and Dust Belts, page 82
3. To set (something) over a surface at intervals.
   Stud the cake all over with chocolate chips, pointed ends in. 2010, Rose Levy Beranbaum, Rose's Heavenly Cakes
   Stud the onion with cloves and add to the pan. 2016, Mary Price, Vincent Price, Mary and Vincent Price's Come Into the Kitchen Cook Book, page 70

Etymology 3

noun

1. Clipping of student.