O.E. stybb "stump of a tree," from P.Gmc. *stubjaz (cf. M.Du. stubbe, O.N. stubbr), from PIE base *(s)teu- (see
steep (adj.)). Extended in M.E. to other short, thick things. The verb sense of "strike (one's toe) against" something is first recorded 1848. Meaning "to extinguish