Aunt Judy’s Milk Piggin – Southern Appalachian Digital Collection
fall to staves verb phrase To collapse, fall apart.
1924 Raine Saddlebags 104 We had a cedar churn, but it fell to staves. 1940 Haun Hawk’s Done 28 “Granny you’re nigh tired to death, ain’t you?” And I did feel all at once like I was about to fall to staves. 1967 DARE Survey (Maryville TN) = collapse.
—Dictionary of Southern Appalachian English
I’ve never heard the phrase fall to staves but I’ve surely felt like it when I was sick with the flu.
The site A Way With Words offers the following definition.
“Someone who’s really hungry might say I’m falling to staves, meaning they’re famished. It’s a reference to the way a barrel falls apart if the metal hoops that hold them together are removed.”
I found an old entry in a FaceBook group from Jerry Necessary Ivey from August of 2021.
“When I was a young child I was puzzled when my great grandmother used a phrase after a hard days work on the farm. She said “I’m so tired I’m about to fall to staves.” I understood when I learned that when a barrel had the iron ring removed, it literally fell apart into wooden staves. Anyone else familiar with that saying?”
A few other entries in the Dictionary of Southern Appalachian English mention stave but with different meanings.
Staving which means excellent, extraordinary.
And there’s an entry for stave meaning to stub, jab, jam, thrust, plunge: to crush inward. This one is a combination entry that includes stove, which I’m very familiar with. We say stove up for an injury that involves bones or muscles.
The second part of the combination entry has stave (or stove) meaning to rush, hurry, storm about. Some of the sources speak of “come a-staving” meaning they were traveling very fast.
I’m continually fascinated by the language of Appalachia, even the pieces I’ve never heard locally.
Next time I’m plumb wore out I’m going to announce I’m about to fall to staves 🙂
Last night’s video: 20+ Year Old Waffle Maker Still Working Great!
Tipper
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After a very long, hard day’s work or if his arthritis was bothering him, my daddy would declare he was “all stoved up.” I am guessing this is the same expression. Grew up about 15 minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway, and stoved is still commonly heard as a physical symptom description in this area. Always wondered about the use of the word. Sending prayers for Granny.
Hain’t heard the staves thing.. but I have been all stove up atter droppin’ my modicycle.
Barrels have almost disappeared from daily life. Seems only distilleries use them much any more. There are probably darn few under 50 who have ever seen a real barrel or keg or anything else made with staves.
Now I know that I’ve been close to falling to staves and didn’t know what to call it. A friend said his football coach “made us run wind sprints until we were plumb lap-legged!” Picturesque stuff. Makes me tired thinking back.
I’ve been out this AM working on a new flower garden for my wife. After almost four hours I feel like I’m falling apart like that. At almost 83 years of age it takes me most of a week to do the work I used to do in a short day. Then another week to get over it. The years have me near stove up in a lot of ways.
Jackie, my legs and knees are aching now as I write this I fully understand what you wrote. I have been cutting grass all afternoon. The sad part I was on a riding lawnmower. After I retired my son would tell me it now takes you all week to do what you use to do on Saturday.
Love to Granny!
I love the Waffle post. We got to hear Granny. I love y’all and keep you in my prayers.
I recall hearing ‘stave off’ growing up, as in avoiding a possible situation or its outcome. I like its use to feeling staved – and I can get feeling that way more often than I like these days!
I like that!
I have heard stave off and stove up. I like fall to staves! Should have used it yesterday I was so tired. Thanking God for a new day and more get up and go today. ❤️ love and prayers for you all and Granny!
I’ve heard of barrel staves, but not stave used this way. It’s a good way to describe being totally worn out.
That phrase does paint a good picture and if you have ever tried to put an old barrel with loose staves back together, it’s not the easiest thing to do. Makes you certainly respect the cooper who made it. I’ve never heard that but it makes sense. Now Matt can say he’s “come unfed” and “falling to staves”. Thanks for sharing.
I have heard most all of the sayings and adages that you post as I am a neighbor in the next state over, but you got me on this one, I’ve never heard that before.
My father often used the phrase “fall to staves” to refer to something that had been neglected and not properly cared for..
That is interesting, I’ve never heard of that before. I’ll have to tell Lucy the next time she’s tired and due for her nap that she’s about to fall to staves
I’ve always heard “stave off” meaning to try and avoid or avert something but I love “fall to staves” because it just kind of makes sense, doesn’t it? It paints a real picture in your mind.
really enjoy you articles on life as it should be lived
I’ve heard fall to staves referring to objects, but never to people or too mean hungry.
I’m always learnin something new on your blog or YouTube channel, Tipper. I don’t recall hearing “fall to staves” before, but if I hear it now, I’ll know what it means. Thanks for always teaching us something that may be old sayings or old ways, but new to us. Have a blessed day! 😀
I have not been sending card much lately, but please tell Granny I am praying for her every single day. God is always in control even though I might fight that thought, but God is ALWAYS good. Blessings to you guys and them thar babies you love on.