In Appalachian and Southern speech, "stove up" means stiff, sore, or banged up from work, age, or injury. It’s a country way of describing being hurt or not moving easy.
If somebody's injured around here, you're likely hear it described as 'stove up.'
Hillbilly Dude Says...
If somebody's injured around here, you're likely hear it described as 'stove up.'
Pronunciation
[stohv uhp]
Meaning & Usage
- Stiff or sore from strain (adjective)
After farm chores
Mae:
You movin’ slow this mornin’.
Earl:
Yeah, I’m all stove up from pitchin’ hay yesterday.
- Injured or damaged (adjective)
After an accident
Mae:
Truck run alright?
Earl:
Naw, it’s all stove up from hittin’ that ditch.
variations: stiff, sore, banged up, hurting, I’m stove up from haulin’ hay, He got stove up in that wreck, She’s stove up with rheumatism
★ "Stove up" usually applies to people, but country folks also use it for things like trucks, tools, or buildings that got banged up. ★
Origin and Etymology
From the past participle of "stave," meaning to break in or crush. "Staved up" became "stove up" in rural American English. It took on the figurative sense of being hurt, stiff, or damaged - and stuck in Southern/Appalachian talk.
Usage Notes
Still common in Southern and Appalachian speech, especially among older speakers and in farm talk. Younger folks may use it less, but they’ll recognize it.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "stove up." Smooth, no pause - "stoveup."
Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
If somebody's injured around here, you're likely hear it described as 'stove up.' 
