Stub
/stʌb/noun
A short piece remaining after the main part has been removed.
Did you know?The word 'stub' originally referred to a 'stump' or 'remnant', hinting at incomplete or discarded things, often evoking images of decay and loss.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
Old English
stubba
“a stump or remnant of something cut off or broken”
Middle English
Middle English
stubbe
“a short piece or a broken-off part, often used in the context of wood or trees”
16th Century
English
stub
“a remnant of a cigarette or pencil, implying leftover remains”
18th Century
English
stub
“also used to describe a short note or ticket, reinforcing the idea of something incomplete”