Online Etymology Dictionary

stud (n.1): "nailhead, knob," Old English studu "pillar, prop, post," from Proto-Germanic *stud- (cf. Old Norse stoð "staff, stick," prop. "stay," Middle High German stud, Old English stow "place"), from PIE *stu-, variant of root *sta- "to stand" (see stet). Sense expanded by late 14c. to include ornamental devices fixed in and projecting from a surface. The verb is c.1500 in the literal sense of "set with studs," 1560s in studded with "as though sprinkled with nails with conspicuous heads."
stud (n.2): "horse used for breeding," Old English stod "herd of horses, place where horses are kept for breeding," from Proto-Germanic *stodo (cf. Old Norse stoð, Middle Low German stod, Old High German stuot "herd of horses," German Stute "mare"), from PIE root *sta- "to stand," with derivatives meaning "place or thing that is standing" (cf. Old Church Slavonic stado "herd," Lithuanian stodas "a drove of horses;" see stet). Sense of "male horse kept for breeding" is first recorded 1803; meaning "man who is highly active and proficient sexually" is attested from 1895; that of "any young man" is from 1929.
student (n.): late 14c., from Old French estudient "one who is studying," from Medieval Latin studiare "to study," from Latin studium (see study). Student-teacher is attested from 1907.
studio (n.): 1819, "work-room of a sculptor or painter," from Italian studio "room for study," from Latin studium (see study). Motion picture sense first recorded 1911; radio broadcasting sense 1922; television sense 1938. Studio apartment first recorded 1903.
studious (adj.): mid-14c. (implied in studiously), from Latin studiosus, from studium (see study). Related: Studiousness.
studly (adj.): by 1971, American English, from stud (n.2) in the "virile male" sense + -ly (1). Related: Studliness.
study (v.): early 12c., from Old French estudier "to study" (French étude), from Medieval Latin studiare, from Latin studium "study, application," originally "eagerness," from studere "to be diligent" ("to be pressing forward"), from PIE *(s)teu- "to push, stick, knock, beat" (see steep (adj.)). The noun meaning "application of the mind to the acquisition of knowledge" is recorded from c.1300. Sense of "room furnished with books" is from c.1300. Study hall is attested from 1891, originally a large common room in a college. Studious is attested from late 14c.
stuff (n.): early 14c., "quilted material worn under chain mail," from Old French estoffe "quilted material, furniture, provisions" (Modern French étoffe), from estoffer "to equip or stock," which according to French sources is from Old High German stopfon "to plug, stuff," or from a related Frankish word (see stop), but OED has "strong objections" to this. Sense extended to material for working with in various trades (c.1400), then (1570s) "matter of an unspecified kind." Meaning "narcotic, dope, drug" is attested from 1929. To know (one's) stuff "have a grasp on a subject" is recorded from 1927.
stuff (v.): mid-15c., "to cram full," from stuff (n.); earlier "to furnish a fort or army with men and stores" (c.1300). The ballot-box sense is attested from 1854, American English; in expressions of contempt and suggestive of bodily orifices, it dates from 1952. Stuffing "seasoned mixture used to stuff fowls before cooking" is from 1530s. Stuffed in reference to garments, "padded with stuffing" is from mid-15c.; hence stuffed shirt "pompous, ineffectual person" (1913).
stuffy (adj.): "poorly ventilated," 1831, from stuff (n.) + -y (2). Sense of "pompous, smug" is from 1895. Related: Stuffily; stuffiness.
Stuka (n.): German dive bomber of World War II, 1940, from German shortening of Sturzkampfflugzeug, from sturz "fall" + kampf "battle" + flugzeug "aircraft."
stultify (v.): 1766, "allege to be of unsound mind" (legal term), from Late Latin stultificare "turn into foolishness," from Latin stultus "foolish" + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). The first element is cognate with Latin stolidus "slow, dull, obtuse" (see stolid). Meaning "cause to appear foolish or absurd" is from 1809.
stumble (v.): c.1300, "to trip or miss one's footing" (physically or morally), probably from a Scandinavian source (cf. dialectal Norwegian stumla, Swedish stambla "to stumble"), probably from a variant of the Proto-Germanic base *stam-, source of Old English stamerian "to stammer," German stumm "dumb, silent." Possibly influenced in form by stumpen "to stumble," but the -b- may be purely euphonious. Meaning "to come (upon) by chance" is attested from 1550s. Stumbling-block first recorded 1526, used in Rom. xiv:13 to translate Greek skandalon.
stumblebum (n.): "alcoholic derelict," 1932, from stumble + bum (n.2).
stump (n.): mid-14c., "remaining part of a severed arm or leg," from or cognate with Middle Low German stump (from adjective meaning "mutilated, blunt, dull"), Middle Dutch stomp "stump," from Proto-Germanic *stump- (cf. Old Norse stumpr, Old High German and German stumpf "stump," German Stummel "piece cut off"), perhaps related to the root of stub or stamp, but the connection in each case presents difficulties.

Earliest form of the word in English is a now-obsolete verb meaning "to stumble over a tree-stump or other obstacle," attested from mid-13c. Meaning "part of a tree trunk left in the ground after felling" is from mid-15c. Sense of "walk clumsily" is first recorded c.1600; that of "baffle" is first recorded 1807, perhaps in reference to plowing newly cleared land.
stump (v.): "to go on a speaking tour during a political campaign," 1838, American English, from phrase stump speech (1820), from stump (n.), large tree stumps being a natural perch for rural orators (this custom is attested from 1775).
stun (v.): c.1300, "to daze or render unconscious" (from a blow, powerful emotion, etc.), probably a shortening of Old French estoner "to stun" (see astonish). Stunning popularized for "splendid, excellent" c.1849.
stunner (n.): 1829, in pugilism, agent noun from stun. Meaning "beautiful woman" attested by 1848.
stunt (v.): "check in growth, dwarf," 1650s, verb use of Middle English adjective stunnt "foolish," from Old English stunt "short-witted, foolish" (cf. stuntspræc "foolish talk"), from Proto-Germanic *stuntaz (cf. Old Norse stuttr "short"), from the root of stump. Related: Stunted; stunting.
stunt (n.): "feat to attract attention," 1878, American English college sports slang, of uncertain origin. Speculated to be a variant of colloq. stump "dare, challenge" (1871), or of German stunde, literally "hour." The movie stunt man is attested from 1930.
stupefaction (n.): 1540s, from Middle French stupéfaction (16c.) or Modern Latin stupefactionem (see stupefy).
stupefy (v.): 1510s (implied in past participle stupefact), from Middle French stupéfier, from Latin stupefacere "make stupid or senseless," from stupere "be stunned" (see stupid) + facere "to make" (see factitious).
stupendous (adj.): 1660s, earlier stupendious (1540s), from Late Latin stupendus "to be wondered at," gerundive form of Latin stupere "be stunned, be struck senseless" (see stupid).
stupid (adj.): 1540s, "mentally slow," from Middle French stupide, from Latin stupidus "amazed, confounded," literally "struck senseless," from stupere "be stunned, amazed, confounded," from PIE *(s)tupe- "hit," from root *(s)teu- (see steep (adj.)).

Native words for this idea include negative compounds with words for "wise" (cf. Old English unwis, unsnotor, ungleaw), also dol (see dull), and dysig (see dizzy). Stupid retained its association with stupor and its overtones of "stunned by surprise, grief, etc." into mid-18c. The difference between stupid and the less opprobrious foolish roughly parallels that of German töricht vs. dumm but does not exist in most European languages.
stupidity (n.): 1540s, "want of intelligence," from Latin stupiditas, from stupidus (see stupid). It also at various times meant "lack of feeling or emotion" (1560s); "stupor; numbness" (c.1600).
stupor (n.): late 14c., from Latin stupor "insensibility, numbness, dullness," from stupere "be stunned" (see stupid).
sturdy (adj.): c.1300, "hard to manage, reckless, violent," from Old French estourdi "violent," originally "dazed," past participle of estourdir "to daze," from Vulgar Latin *exturdire, which is presumed to be from Latin intensive prefix ex + turdus "thrush." Perhaps the notion is of thrushes eating leftover grapes at wineries and acting drunk (Italian tordo "thrush" also means "simpleton," and French has the expression soÃ»l comme une grive "drunk as a thrush"). OED, however, regards all this as "open to grave objection." Sense of "solidly built, strong and hardy" first recorded late 14c.
sturgeon (n.): c.1300, from Anglo-French sturgeon, Old French esturjon, from a Germanic source (cf. Old High German sturio "sturgeon," Old English styria), from Proto-Germanic *sturjon-; cognate with Lithuanian ersketras, Russian osetr "sturgeon." Of obscure origin, perhaps from a lost pre-Indo-Eeuropean tongue of northern Europe, or from the root of stir. Medieval Latin sturio, Italian storione, Spanish esturion are Germanic loan-words.
Sturm und Drang: 1844, literally "storm and stress," late 18c. German romanticism period, is taken from the title of a 1776 romantic drama by German poet Friedrich Maximilian von Klinger (1752-1831), who gave it this name at the suggestion of Christoph Kauffmann.
Sturmabteilung (n.): 1923, from German, literally "storm detachment;" paramilitary force of the Nazi Party, founded 1921, repressed 1934, also know by its initials, S.A., and as the Brown shirts (see brown).
stutter (v.): 1560s, frequentative form of stutt, from Middle English stutten "to stutter, stammer" (late 14c.), cognate with Middle Low German stoten "to knock, strike against, collide," from Proto-Germanic *staut- "push, thrust" (cf. Old English stotan, Old High German stozan, Gothic stautan "to push, thrust"), from PIE *(s)teu- (see steep (adj.)). The noun is attested from 1854.
sty (1): "pen for pigs," Old English sti, stig "hall, pen" (in sti-fearh), from Proto-Germanic *stijan (cf. Old Norse stia "sty, kennel," Old High German stiga "pen for small cattle").
sty (2): "inflamed swelling in the eyelid," 1610s, probably a back-formation from Middle English styany (as though sty on eye), mid-15c., from Old English stigend "sty," literally "riser," from present participle of stigan "go up, rise," from Proto-Germanic *stig- (see stair).
Stygian: "pertaining to Styx or the nether world," 1560s, from Latin Stygius, from Greek Stygios, from Styx (genitive Stygos); see Styx.
style (n.): c.1300, stile, "designation, title, manner or mode of expression," from Old French estile "a stake, pale," from Latin stilus "stake, instrument for writing, manner of writing, mode of expression," from PIE *sti-lo-, from root *sti- "point, prick, pierce" (see stick (v.)). Spelling modified by influence of Greek stylos "pillar." Meaning "mode or fashion of life" is from 1770; that of "mode of dress" is from 1814.
style (v.): 1560s, "to give a name to," from style (n.). Meaning "to arrange in fashionable style" (especially of hair) is attested from 1934. Slang sense of "act or play in a showy way" is by 1974, U.S. Black slang. Related: Styled; styling.
stylish: 1797 ( in "Sense and Sensibility"), from style + -ish. The adjective good is understood. Related: Stylishly; stylishness.
stylist: 1795, originally in writing, from style + -ist.
stylistic: 1860; see style + -istic.
stylite (n.): ascetic living on the top of a pillar, 1630s, from Ecclesiastical Greek stylites, from stylos "pillar" (see stet).
stylize: 1898 (implied in stylized), from style (n.) + -ize. Perhaps a translation of German stilisieren.
stylus (n.): 1728, "stem-like part of a flower pistil," alteration of Latin stilus "stake, stylus;" spelling influenced by Greek stylos "pillar" (see stet). Meaning "instrument for writing" is from 1807.
stymie: 1834, (n.), "condition in which an opponent's golf ball blocks the hole," perhaps from Scottish stymie "person who sees poorly," from stime "the least bit" (c.1300), of uncertain origin (Icelandic cognate skima is attested from c.1685). The verb, in golf, is from 1857; general sense of "block, hinder, thwart" is from 1902.
styptic: c.1400, from Old French stiptique, from Latin stypticus "astringent," from Greek styptikos, from styphein "to constrict, draw together." Spelling influenced by Latin and Greek words.
styrene: colorless hydrocarbon, 1885, from Styrax, name of a genus of trees (the chemical is found in their resin), 1786, from Latin styrax, from Greek styrax, of Sem. origin (cf. Hebrew tsori "terebinth resin"). Form influenced by Greek styrax "shaft of a lance."
Styrofoam: 1950, trademark name (Dow Chemical Co.), from (poly)styr(ene) (see polystyrene) + -o- + foam (n.).
Styx: late 14c., the Greek river of the Underworld, cognate with Greek stygos "hatred," stygnos "gloomy." Oaths sworn by it were supremely binding and even the gods feared to break them. The adjective is Stygian.
suasion (n.): late 14c., probably via Old French suasion (14c.), from Latin suasionem (nominative suasio) "an advising, a counseling," from suasus, past participle of suadere "to urge, persuade" (related to suavis "sweet;" see sweet). Survives chiefly in phrase moral suasion (1640s).
suave (adj.): early 15c., "gracious, kindly," from Middle French suave, from Latin suavis "agreeable," from PIE root *swad- (see sweet). In reference to persons, sense of "smoothly agreeable" first recorded 1815 (in suavity).
suavity (n.): c.1400, "pleasantness, delightfulness; kindness, gentleness," from Latin suavitas, from suavis (see suave).