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

There were also stints with the National Guard, Federal Emergency Management Agency, the CIA and the White House, where he served as a homeland security specialist under George W. Bush.

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

A suspended sentence was handed to him four years later, followed by four more stints in jail.

From BBC

No matter where John Robinson coached, most known for his stints with USC and the Rams, his players gushed about their connection with the man.

From Los Angeles Times

Robinson, whose USC teams won four Rose Bowls in his two stints with the Trojans, died Monday in Baton Rouge, La., of complications from pneumonia, USC announced.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• scrimp