stubble
STUB-uhl
/ˈstʌbəl/
The short, stiff hairs that grow back on a part of the body (especially a man's face) that has been recently shaved.
Refers to the prickly, rough texture of early hair regrowth, which occurs quickly after depilation.
The story behind the word. Originally, 'stubble' referred to the short stalks of grain left sticking out of the ground after a harvest (from Latin 'stipula', meaning straw). Over time, people noticed that the short, prickly hairs on a recently shaved chin looked and felt exactly like a harvested wheat field.
Word relationships
- bristle: Bristle refers to any short, stiff hair (including animal hair on brushes), while stubble specifically refers to cut hair regrowing on skin.
- smoothness: Smoothness is the complete absence of hair or texture, whereas stubble is defined by its rough, prickly texture.
Commonly confused with
- beard: A beard is a fully grown, soft collection of facial hair, while stubble is the short, sharp, early stage of regrowth.
Word family
- stubbly (adjective): Covered with stubble; rough and prickly.
Collocations
- five o'clock stubble
- rough stubble
- shave off stubble
Example sentences
- "By late evening, a rough layer of stubble had already begun to shadow his jawline." A description of someone's physical appearance.
- "I dislike shaving because the resulting stubble feels incredibly itchy and abrasive against my collar." A complaint about shaving side effects.
Memory hook
Think of 'STUB-ble' as tiny, sharp 'STUBS' of hair left behind after shaving. Prickly stubs of hair.
When not to use
Do not use to describe long, soft hair or hair that has never been shaved.
Fun facts
- In agricultural history, 'stubble burning' was a common practice of setting fire to the straw left in fields after harvest to clear the land for the next planting.
Related words
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