In an earlier episode, we discussed various meanings for the term stove up. One meaning of stove up is “to be in pain from work or exercise to the point where it’s hard to move.” Similarly, lots of athletes will get stoved fingers from getting them jammed with volleyballs or baseballs. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Stoved Fingers”
Remember our conversation about the term stove up?
Yeah, it has to do with bashing something in.
We heard from Jill Herr in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
She said, I’m a physician and I’ve had a number of people come to see me for stoved fingers.
The complaint is usually, I think I stoved it, meaning they jam their finger.
I never could figure out why they use that expression, and it makes sense to me now.
And actually, we heard from softball players and volleyball players who talked about their fingers being stoved up.
I see.
I did that once playing volleyball when I was a kid.
For years, one of my pinkies was shorter than the other one.
Really?
Yeah, they’re fine now.
And then it changed?
What happened?
It got jammed.
Did you hang from your fingers?
No, it jammed in.
The volleyball hit it directly.
Yeah?
Yeah, and it jammed, and it took months to even stop hurting, and then it took years to turn back to its regular length.
The things you learn on public radio.
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