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

Related Words

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