Related formsstunt·ed·ness, nounun·stunt·ed, adjective
stunt
1
[stuhnt]
verb (used with object)
to stop, slow down, or hinder the growth or development of; dwarf: A harsh climate stunted the trees. Brutal treatment in childhood stunted his personality.
noun
a stop or hindrance in growth or development.
arrested development.
a plant or animal hindered from attaining its proper growth.
Plant Pathology. a disease of plants, characterized by a dwarfing or stunting of the plant.
Origin of stunt
1
1575–85; v. use of dial. stunt dwarfed, stubborn (Middle English;Old English: stupid); cognate with Middle High Germanstunz,Old Norsestuttr short; akin to stint1
Related formsstunt·ing·ly, adverbstunt·y, adjective
stunt
2
[stuhnt]
noun
a performance displaying a person's skill or dexterity, as in athletics; feat: an acrobatic stunt.
any remarkable feat performed chiefly to attract attention: The kidnapping was said to be a publicity stunt.
verb (used without object)
to do a stunt or stunts.
TelevisionSlang. to add specials, miniseries, etc., to a schedule of programs, especially so as to increase ratings.
verb (used with object)
to use in doing stunts: to stunt an airplane.
Origin of stunt
2
An Americanism dating back to 1890–95; origin uncertain
(tr)to prevent or impede the growth or development of (a plant, animal, etc)
noun
the act or an instance of stunting
a person, animal, or plant that has been stunted
Derived Formsstunted, adjectivestuntedness, noun
Word Origin for stunt
C17 (as vb: to check the growth of): perhaps from C15 stont of short duration, from Old English stunt simple, foolish; sense probably influenced by Old Norse stuttr short in stature, dwarfed
stunt
2
noun
an acrobatic, dangerous, or spectacular action
an acrobatic or dangerous piece of action in a film or television programme
anything spectacular or unusual done to gain publicity
"check in growth, dwarf," 1650s, verb use of Middle English adjective stunnt "foolish," from Old English stunt "short-witted, foolish" (cf. stuntspræc "foolish talk"), from Proto-Germanic *stuntaz (cf. Old Norse stuttr "short"), from the root of stump. Related: Stunted; stunting.
stunt
n.
"feat to attract attention," 1878, American English college sports slang, of uncertain origin. Speculated to be a variant of colloq. stump "dare, challenge" (1871), or of German stunde, literally "hour." The movie stunt man is attested from 1930.
