n. [ Written also rant. ] [ Scot. runt an old cow, an old, withered woman, a hardened stem or stalk, the trunk of a tree; cf. D. rund a bullock, an ox or cow, G. rind. Cf. Rother, a. ] 1. (Zool.) Any animal which is unusually small, as compared with others of its kind; -- applied particularly to domestic animals. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. (Zool.) A variety of domestic pigeon, related to the barb and carrier. [ 1913 Webster ]
3. A dwarf; also, a mean, despicable, boorish person; -- used opprobriously. [ 1913 Webster ]
Before I buy a bargain of such runts,
I'll buy a college for bears, and live among 'em. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]
4. The dead stump of a tree; also, the stem of a plant. [ Obs. or Prov. Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]
Neither young poles nor old runts are durable. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]