View synonyms for runt

runt

[ ruhnt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

an animal that is small or stunted as compared with others of its kind.
the smallest or weakest of a litter, especially of piglets or puppies.
a person who is petty and contemptible:
That runt causes most of the trouble at the meetings.
British Dialect.
1. an old or decayed tree stump.
2. an old cow or ox.
3. an ugly old woman; hag.

runt

/ rʌnt /

the smallest and weakest young animal in a litter, esp the smallest piglet in a litter
derogatory.
an undersized or inferior person
a large pigeon, originally bred for eating

Origin of runt¹

First recorded in 1540–50; of uncertain origin, perhaps from Dutch rund “bull, cow, ox”; akin to German Rind “cattle”

Origin of runt¹

C16: origin unknown

No one cared that it was the runt of the solar system, with a moon half its size.

And by military standards and compared with everyone who was around there—he was a runt.

"Here's my authority, yuh blasted runt," he yelled, and jerked his six-shooter to a level with the policeman's breast.

Never since I was a little runt—did I—never cried in thirty years—and here I am-leaking like a pail!

"The darned little greasy-faced runt," he mumbled rebelliously, and immediately felt the better for it.

She had betrayed such a liking for him that the miserable runt of a Little Willie had been jealous.

That troop has a miserable runt of a fice, and he's smart the same as such pups often are.

April 18, 2024petrichor

[pet-ri-kawr]

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