stunt

Noun · Verb

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

  1. a difficult or unusual or dangerous feat; usually done to gain attention
  2. a creature (especially a whale) that has been prevented from attaining full growth

Verb (2)

  1. check the growth or development of“You will stunt your growth by building all these muscles”
  2. perform a stunt or stunts
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Stunt \Stunt\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stunted; p. pr. & vb. n. Stunting.] [See Stint.] To hinder from growing to the natural size; to prevent the growth of; to stint, to dwarf; as, to stunt a child; to stunt a plant. [1913 Webster]

When, by a cold penury, I blast the abilities of a nation, and stunt the growth of its active energies, the ill or may do is beyond all calculation. --Burke. [1913 Webster]

Stunt \Stunt\, n.

1.A check in growth; also, that which has been checked in growth; a stunted animal or thing. [1913 Webster]

2.Specifically: A whale two years old, which, having been weaned, is lean, and yields but little blubber. [1913 Webster]

Stunt \Stunt\, n. [Cf. Stint a task.]

1.A feat hard to perform; an act which is striking for the skill, strength, or the like, required to do it; a feat. [Colloq.]

An extraordinary man does three or four different "stunts" with remarkable dexterity.— The Bookman.
He does not try to do stunts; and, above all, he does not care to go in swimming.— L. Hutton.[Webster 1913 Suppl.]

2.an unusual action performed to gain public attention; as, a publicity stunt. [PJC]

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