runty

[ ruhn-tee ]

/ ˈrʌn ti /

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adjective, runt·i·er, runt·i·est.

stunted; dwarfish: The runty puppy seems the most playful of the litter.

QUIZ

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Question 1 of 7

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Origin of runty

First recorded in 1800–10; runt + -y¹

runt·i·ness, noun

In it, a group of children go ice skating on a pond in the woods, all taking to the ice with great enthusiasm, except for one runty kid who sucks at ice skating.
The McDonald’s Commercials That Live in Our Minds, Rent Free|MM Carrigan|December 18, 2020|Eater
In the language of the country they meant runty, mean-figured, undersized.
From Place to Place|Irvin S. Cobb
Runty took the chair, and in a few earnest and well-chosen words, he dispatched the Ossified Man for a pitcher of beer.
Tin-Types Taken in the Streets of New York|Lemuel Ely Quigg
Three such smilin' faces as yours turned right up at him would produce a shadder, Runty.
Tin-Types Taken in the Streets of New York|Lemuel Ely Quigg

Now, Runty, you fellows hurry up to your headquarters, so's to be there when the reporters come.
Tin-Types Taken in the Streets of New York|Lemuel Ely Quigg
And that little runty boy with the bright face, the cause of your recent disaster, who was he?
At Boarding School with the Tucker Twins|Nell Speed