runt

[ruhnt]

noun

1. an animal that is small or stunted as compared with others of its kind.

2. the smallest or weakest of a litter, especially of piglets or puppies.

3. a person who is petty and contemptible.

   That runt causes most of the trouble at the meetings.

4. British Dialect.

   1. an old or decayed tree stump.

   2. an old cow or ox.

   3. an ugly old woman; hag.

runt

/ rʌnt /

noun

1. the smallest and weakest young animal in a litter, esp the smallest piglet in a litter

2. derogatory,  an undersized or inferior person

3. a large pigeon, originally bred for eating

Other Word Forms

• runtish adjective
• runtishly adverb
• runtishness noun
• runtiness noun
• runty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of runt¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of runt¹

C16: origin unknown

Example Sentences

They must be culled, like runts from a litter.

Read more on Literature

But Dek is the approximate size of a large human, a veritable runt in a race of beings that are typically between 7 and 8 feet tall.

Read more on Salon

He’s a runt whose father tries to kill him to purge weakness from the clan of apex hunters.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He’s the runt of the litter, and the comedy relief.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

We have long been treated like the runt of the litter, distancing ourselves from politics and known for having low voter turnouts.

Read more on Los Angeles Times