stint

¹

[ stint ]

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.

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

[ stint ]

noun

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

stint

¹

/ stɪnt /

verb

1. to be frugal or miserly towards (someone) with (something)
2. archaic.
   to stop or check (something)

noun

1. an allotted or fixed amount of work
2. a limitation or check
3. obsolete.
   a pause or stoppage

stint

²

/ stɪnt /

noun

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

Derived Forms

• ˈstinter, noun

Other Words From

• stinted·ly adverb
• stinted·ness noun
• stinter noun
• stinting·ly adverb
• stintless adjective
• un·stinted adjective
• un·stinting adjective
• un·stinting·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of stint¹

Old English styntan to blunt; related to Old Norse stytta to cut short; see stunt ¹

Origin of stint²

Old English; related to Middle High German stinz small salmon, Swedish dialect stinta teenager; see stunt ¹

Example Sentences

The 69-year street vendor said she lives in a motel near the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, arriving there after a stint of homelessness that occurred when code enforcement forced her to move from an illegal garage she rented for around $500 a month.

From Los Angeles Times

So when Reynold Hoover talks about his new role as chief executive for LA28, the private group responsible for staging the Games and the ensuing Paralympics, he often refers to his stint as a brigadier general in the Afghanistan war.

From Los Angeles Times

For next 40 years, he worked there, except for a four-year stint as U.S. solicitor general representing the Bush administration.

From Los Angeles Times

Since replacing Wayne Pivac and returning for a second stint as Wales head coach in December 2022, Gatland has won just six out of 22 games.

From BBC

During his own stint in the South Korean military, Im acted in a few military-sponsored plays and decided he wanted to make a career of it.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• scrimp