Runt

Runt
Runt Runt, n. [Written also {rant}.] [Scot. runt an old cow, an old, withered woman, a hardened stem or stalk, the trunk of a tree; cf. D. rund a bullock, an ox or cow, G. rind. Cf. {Rother}, a.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any animal which is unusually small, as compared with others of its kind; -- applied particularly to domestic animals. [1913 Webster]

2. (Zo["o]l.) A variety of domestic pigeon, related to the barb and carrier. [1913 Webster]

3. A dwarf; also, a mean, despicable, boorish person; -- used opprobriously. [1913 Webster]

Before I buy a bargain of such runts, I'll buy a college for bears, and live among 'em. --Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster]

4. The dead stump of a tree; also, the stem of a plant. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] --Halliwell. [1913 Webster]

Neither young poles nor old runts are durable. --Holland. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • runt — runt; runt·ed; runt·i·ness; runt·ish; se·de·runt; runt·ish·ly; runt·ish·ness; …   English syllables

  • runt — [rʌnt] n [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: Perhaps from Dutch rund cow, small ox ] 1.) the smallest and least developed baby animal of a group born at the same time runt of ▪ the runt of the litter 2.) informal a small, unpleasant, or unimportant person …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • runt|y — «RUHN tee», adjective, runt|i|er, runt|i|est. unusually small; undersized; stunted; dwarfish …   Useful english dictionary

  • runt — c.1500, old or decayed tree stump, of unknown origin. Meaning extended to small ox or cow (1540s) and by 1610s to other animals and people. Specific Amer.Eng. sense of smallest of a litter (especially of pigs) is attested from 1841. Some see a… …   Etymology dictionary

  • runt — [runt] n. [< ?] 1. a stunted, undersized, or dwarfish animal, plant, thing, or (usually in a contemptuous sense) person 2. the smallest animal of a litter runtiness n. runty adj. runtier, runtiest …   English World dictionary

  • runt — [ rʌnt ] noun count 1. ) the smallest and weakest animal of a LITTER (=a group born at the same time) 2. ) OFFENSIVE someone who is small or weak …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • runt — • runt, cirka, omkring, ungefär, avrundat …   Svensk synonymlexikon

  • runt — *dwarf, pygmy, midget, manikin, homunculus …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • runt — [n] very small person half pint*, homunculus, Lilliputian, midget, peewee*, punk*, shrimp*; concept 424 …   New thesaurus

  • runt — ► NOUN ▪ a small pig or other animal, especially the smallest in a litter. DERIVATIVES runtish adjective runty adjective. ORIGIN originally in the sense «old or decayed tree stump», later «small ox or cow»: of unknown origin …   English terms dictionary

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