stint

¹ American  

[stint] / stɪnt /

verb (used without object)

1. to be frugal; get along on a scanty allowance.

   Don't stint on the food.

   They stinted for years in order to save money.

2. Archaic. to cease action; desist.

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verb (used with object)

1. to limit to a certain amount, number, share, or allowance, often unduly; set limits to; restrict.

   Synonyms:

   skimp, scrimp, economize

2. Archaic. to bring to an end; check.

noun

1. a period of time spent doing something.

   a two-year stint in the army.

2. an allotted amount or piece of work.

   to do one's daily stint.

3. limitation or restriction, especially as to amount.

   to give without stint.

   Synonyms:

   tour of duty, tour, term, shift

4. a limited, prescribed, or expected quantity, share, rate, etc..

   to exceed one's stint.

   Synonyms:

   portion, allotment

5. Obsolete. a pause; halt.

stint ² American  

[stint] / stɪnt /

noun

1. any of various small sandpipers of the genus Calidris, as the least sandpiper.

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stint ¹ British  

/ stɪnt /

verb

1. to be frugal or miserly towards (someone) with (something)

2. archaic to stop or check (something)

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noun

1. an allotted or fixed amount of work

2. a limitation or check

3. obsolete a pause or stoppage

stint ² British  

/ stɪnt /

noun

1. any of various small sandpipers of the chiefly northern genus Calidris (or Erolia ), such as C. minuta ( little stint )

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Other Word Forms

• stintedly adverb
• stintedness noun
• stinter noun
• stintingly adverb
• stintless adjective
• unstinted adjective
• unstinting adjective
• unstintingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of stint¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English verb stinten, stenten “to cease,” Old English styntan “to make blunt, dull”; cognate with Old Norse stytta “to shorten” ( stunt ¹ ); noun derivative of the verb

Origin of stint²

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English; stynte, stint; further origin unknown

Example Sentences

But during his stint as a backup in Green Bay, Willis has managed to completely change the way the league thinks about him.

From The Wall Street Journal

But unlike their previous stint in power before 2001, they no longer allow the country to be a springboard for global terrorism and even cooperate with the West against Islamic State.

From The Wall Street Journal

Some people are now returning to the area after stints in more expensive regions—in some cases bringing their salaries with them and immediately improving their standard of living.

From The Wall Street Journal

The veteran consumer-goods entrepreneur had been assistant brand manager for Kraft mac and cheese during a short stint at the food giant starting in the late 1990s.

From The Wall Street Journal

De Zerbi caught the eye in the first season of a two-year stint at Brighton, guiding them into Europe for the first time and also taking them into the FA Cup semi-finals.

From BBC

Related Words

• assignment
• duty
• job
• spell
• stretch
• tour