It seems the stat(1) man and info pages mention often --format but don't say what the default --format is if no --format argument is given.
- bug#18624: mention stat(1) default format 積丹尼 Dan Jacobson
- bug#18624: mention stat(1) default format Bernhard Voelker
- bug#18624: mention stat(1) default format Pádraig Brady
- bug#18624: mention stat(1) default for... Bernhard Voelker
