stove-up

adjective

: suffering physical discomfort caused by injury, illness, exercise, or overwork : battered, worn-out
horses … too old and stove-up for saddle workF. B. Gipson
several of the men were stove-up … and even some of the women showed signs of having been kicked or stepped onH. L. Davis

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of stave up, verb

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near stove-up

Cite this Entry

“Stove-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stove-up. Accessed 18 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!