noun
stubble
STUB-ul/ˈstʌbl/
Short stiff stalks remaining after cutting.
Short, stiff stubble covers his chin and jaw after shaving.
Etymology
From the word for a stalk or straw, stubble came to mean the short grain stalks left after harvesting. Those bristly remains supplied the image for short hair on an unshaven face.
In context
Today I'm going to show you how I trim and shape my stubble beard. First thing it's the length. Stubble is usually between two and 5 mm.
More examples
- The sharp stubble scratches my ankles as I cross the field.
- Geese search for fallen grain among the corn stubble.
- Leaving stubble in place helps protect the soil from erosion.
Forms
stubbly adjective — Covered with short, stiff stalks or hairs.