The Hottest Studs on HubPages

Among Merriam-Webster's definitions of stud is "a; young man : guy ; especially : one who is virile and promiscuous b: a tough person c: hunk.

I'm sure we could all name a half dozen, dozen or even 100 Hubbers who fit this classic definition. But if you came here expecting a photo essay of your favorite writers' avatars, I'm afraid you will be disappointed.

On the other (sweaty) hand, if you came here with an open mind, you just might learn something new about studs. Because, as I found out, not all studs are promiscuous or virile (but some are). And while most are exceptionally strong or tough, it would be stretching it to call them "hunks."

When I started researching this hub, I must confess I had some preconceived ideas myself. My little mind took me straight to ...construction. I Google'd "construction studs" and look who popped up? Ms. Studfinder herself.

I figured heck, if she's got that kind of Google ranking she must be quite an expert on the subject of studs. So I enlisted her help. Thank goodness I did, or I probably would have to resort to posting avatars of people like Christoph Reilly, Agvulpes, Constant Walker, Sixtyorso, Eric Graudins, Misha, TKeeley and Goldentoad (to name but a few of the genuine hunksters of HP).

Notice her bright orange double entendres, unfailingly pointed toward new definitions of "stud." In fact, I am pretty sure Ms. Studfinder has had experience with lots and lots of studs in her career.

But I must say I'm pretty impressed with what she came up with (no pun intended there).

Okay. So her first attempt was rather lame. I think she was trying to test me. She came up with the Stud contact system,  which of course everyone knows is an obsolete ground-level power supply system for tramways.Yawn.

The rest of Ms. Studfinder's findings are listed here for your edification (or I suppose that would be "stud-ification").

Shirt Stud - a small ornamental button mounted on a short post for insertion through an eyelet

Stud earrings - for pierced ears

Yes, both of these stud types involve sticking a hard shaft through a hole. The nice thing about these personal studs is that a) they reflect your personal style, and b) are totally portable -- you can take them with you wherever you go. In addition, they inspire envy. Expect positive comments when you display your personal studs.

The interlocking circular piece of a LEGO brick is also called a "stud."

This one totally surprised me, until I remembered going to LEGOland with my son (then 6). We were having a wonderful, wholesome time when some guy (NOT my idea of a virile hunk at all) tried to PICK ME UP! Right there in LEGOland!! How could anyone find the ambiance at a theme park romantic? Maybe there's something arousing about all those millions of interlocking lego pieces (?). I thought perhaps it could be that sexy Swedish influence ... until I realized LEGO is a Danish company. Oh well.

Studded tires -- Devices inserted in the tread of automobile winter tires.

I guess you could say these studs make your tires more virile. And like other studs (see animal studs, below) they are only good for a very specific purpose. They're basically useless or even harmful if you try to drive on them in the summer.

Actual wording from Wikipedia: Wall stud - a "vertical member" within a light-frame construction wall. Also, Stud Wall.

Uh. I'm not touching that one with a 2x4 pole. Especially not when combined with this other construction-related type of stud:

Screw - a threaded fastener. A screw is a shaft with a helical groove or thread formed on its surface and provision at one end to turn the screw.

So basically, then, you can screw one type of stud (the screw) into another type of stud (the beam). Hmmm.

Stud (animal) - an animal that has been registered and is retained for breeding. Such animals may actually be kept on a stud farm -- not to be confused with farm studs, who are bemuscled, overall-wearing agricultural workers or ranchhands...

I'm thinking this filly isn't too excited about doing the wild thing down on the stud farm. Hey stallion -- take her to LEGOland!  Or you can contact our own BT Evilpants.  He's the senior Animal Stud 'round here.

Yes, I did know Stud Poker was a kind of card game. I did not realize there were so many varieties. There's Five-card stud, Seven-card stud, and for those of you who prefer your studs more on the exotic side, Caribbean Stud Poker.

With so many options, it's a sure bet you'll find the perfect stud to occupy your hand ... or hands.  

In all honesty, The Studfinder did not come up with this final entry. I think because the search criteria I gave her was "stud" and not "studs." Nope, I added Mr. Terkel myself. I was not aware that this prize-winning author and radio broadcast personality had died this year (on Halloween). I was aware of some of his Depression era works (e.g., "Hard Times").

Given Mr. Terkel's long career interviewing icons and discussing/writing about sociological trends, I consider him an excellent stud model for everyone here at Hub Pages. To give you an idea of his breadth of subject matter, here's a list of Studs' favorite conversations:

1957 May 10. Interview with folk singer John Jacob Niles

1957 Sept. 30. Interview with African American gospel singer Mahalia Jackson 1960 February 20. Interview with writer Nelson Algren, Herman Kogan, and Helen Malone

1962 June 24. Interview with African American jazz musician Louis Armstrong 1962 July 6. Presenting "Born to Live," a program of interviews, spoken word, and musical responses to the nuclear age.

1962 July 16. Clemency, redemption, capital punishment and Paul Crump: a panel discussion.

1962 September 29. Interview with African American writer James Baldwin. 1963 Apr. 19. Interview with actor Marlon Brandon

1963 May 1. Interview with singer Bob Dylan.

1963 August 27. Presenting "This Train," interviews with participants on a train ride to Washington D.C. for a civil rights march.

1963 November 25. Terkel's musical eulogy for the young president John F. Kennedy.

1964 July 21. Interview with African American poet Gwendolyn Brooks.

1964 December 17. Interview with African American comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory.

1964 October 3. Interview with folk singer Pete Seeger.

1964 October 22. Interview with African American civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  

1966 January Interview with songwriter E. Y. (Yip) Harburg.

1968 May 1. Terkel comments and presents the Picasso [scuplture] unveiling in Chicago.

1968 July 2. Interview with comedian and filmmaker Mel Brooks.

1970. Inteview with singer Janis Joplin.

1970 Mar. 19. Interviews with Valerie Taylor, Jim Bradford, and Henry Weimhoff about homosexuality.

1971 August 19. Interview with community organizer Saul Alinksy.

1973 June 4. Interview with filmmaker James Cameron.

1973 June 8. Interview with civil rights activists Rosa Parks and Myles Horton. 1975 November 26. Interview with prizefighter Muhammad Ali.

1976 October 1. Interview with actor Zero Mostel.

1978 September 8. Interview with historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. about Robert Kennedy.

1981. Interview with playwright Tennessee Williams on his 70th birthday.

1983 November 17. Interview with Native American historian Vine De Loria. 1992 June 18. Interview with African American writer Ralph Ellison.

1993 August 24. Interview with musical composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein.

1993 February 16. Interview with television journalist Bill Moyers.