stunt

¹

[ stuhnt ]

verb (used with object)

1. 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

1. a stop or hindrance in growth or development.
2. arrested development.
3. a plant or animal hindered from attaining its proper growth.
4. Plant Pathology. a disease of plants, characterized by a dwarfing or stunting of the plant.

stunt

²

[ stuhnt ]

noun

1. a performance displaying a person's skill or dexterity, as in athletics; feat:

   an acrobatic stunt.

2. any remarkable feat performed chiefly to attract attention:

   The kidnapping was said to be a publicity stunt.

verb (used without object)

1. to do a stunt or stunts.
2. Television Slang. to add specials, miniseries, etc., to a schedule of programs, especially so as to increase ratings.

verb (used with object)

1. to use in doing stunts:

   to stunt an airplane.

stunt

¹

/ stʌnt /

noun

1. an acrobatic, dangerous, or spectacular action
2. an acrobatic or dangerous piece of action in a film or television programme
3. anything spectacular or unusual done to gain publicity

verb

1. intr to perform a stunt or stunts

stunt

²

/ stʌnt /

verb

1. tr to prevent or impede the growth or development of (a plant, animal, etc)

noun

1. the act or an instance of stunting
2. a person, animal, or plant that has been stunted

Derived Forms

• ˈstunted, adjective
• ˈstuntedness, noun

Other Words From

• stunting·ly adverb
• stunty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stunt¹

First recorded in 1575–85; verb use of dialect stunt “dwarfed, stubborn”; cognate with Middle High German stunz, Old Norse stuttr “short”; akin to stint ¹

Origin of stunt²

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95; origin uncertain; perhaps a variant of stump ( def ) (in the sense “challenge; dare”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of stunt¹

C19: US student slang, of unknown origin

Origin of stunt²

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

Example Sentences

Bellew, in what appeared to be a stunt for a betting company, was joined by an older man.

From BBC

The stunt coordinator was running along beside me the whole time to make sure that if I fell, he could catch me.

From Los Angeles Times

But I proved to them I didn’t need a stunt double.

From Los Angeles Times

They brought the scooter here with the stunt coordinator, and we went out on a circular driveway.

From Los Angeles Times

There’s so much potential in the 35-acre expanse that dates to the 1880s and was once a symbol of municipal pride, as well as a setting for Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton movies and for a stunt in which escape artist Harry Houdini jumped into the lake in chains.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• antic
• feat
• sketch
• skit