stocky

"Stocky" describes a person or animal that is fairly short and heavily built, with a broad body and a strong, sturdy frame. It usually suggests physical strength and compactness. The idea is not simply that someone is overweight. Instead, it points to a body shape that looks thick, solid, and powerful. A rugby player, a bulldog, or a worker with broad shoulders might be described as stocky.

The word comes from "stock," a word linked to something thick and strong, like the trunk of a tree. That history helps explain the feeling of firmness and strength that the word carries. If a novel describes "a stocky man with rough hands," you immediately picture someone compact, tough, and used to physical effort.

This word is used mostly for people, but it can also be used for animals. It is less common for objects, so that use should be treated carefully. It is also a little different from "muscular." Someone can be muscular because of clearly defined muscles, while stocky suggests an overall shape that is thick, compact, and strong.

So when you want to describe someone as short, broad, and strongly built, "stocky" is a natural choice. It carries the idea of strength in a compact form and helps create a clear picture of a solid, sturdy body.