stunt
noun
- unusual and difficult physical feat
- act or process of performing an unusual or difficult physical feat
verb
- to bring to an abrupt stand
- to limit growth, development, or progress
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /stʌnt/ / /stʊnt/
noun
Etymology: From dialectal stunt (“stubborn, dwarfed”), from Middle English stont, stunt (“short, brief”), from Old English stunt (“stupid, foolish, simple”), from Proto-Germanic *stuntaz (“short, compact, stupid, dull”). Cognate with Middle High German stunz (“short”), Old Norse stuttr (“short in stature, dwarfed”). Related to Old English styntan (“to make dull, stupefy, become dull, repress”). More at stint.
- A check in growth.
- That which has been checked in growth; a stunted animal or thing.
- A two-year-old whale, which, having been weaned, is lean and yields little blubber.
verb
Etymology: From dialectal stunt (“stubborn, dwarfed”), from Middle English stont, stunt (“short, brief”), from Old English stunt (“stupid, foolish, simple”), from Proto-Germanic *stuntaz (“short, compact, stupid, dull”). Cognate with Middle High German stunz (“short”), Old Norse stuttr (“short in stature, dwarfed”). Related to Old English styntan (“to make dull, stupefy, become dull, repress”). More at stint.
- To check or hinder the growth or development of.
“Some have said smoking stunts your growth.”
“The politician timed his announcement to stunt any surge in the polls his opponent might gain from the convention.”