From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Runt \Runt\, 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.
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2. (Zool.) A variety of domestic pigeon, related to the barb
and carrier.
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3. A dwarf; also, a mean, despicable, boorish person; -- used
opprobriously.
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Before I buy a bargain of such runts,
I'll buy a college for bears, and live among 'em.
--Beau. & Fl.
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4. The dead stump of a tree; also, the stem of a plant. [Obs.
or Prov. Eng.] --Halliwell.
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Neither young poles nor old runts are durable.
--Holland.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Rant \Rant\ (r[a^]nt), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ranted; p. pr. &
vb. n. Ranting.] [OD. ranten, randen, to dote, to be
enraged.]
To rave in violent, high-sounding, or extravagant language,
without dignity of thought; to be noisy, boisterous, and
bombastic in talk or declamation; as, a ranting preacher.
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Look where my ranting host of the Garter comes! --Shak.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Rant \Rant\, n.
High-sounding language, without importance or dignity of
thought; boisterous, empty declamation; bombast; as, the rant
of fanatics.
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This is a stoical rant, without any foundation in the
nature of man or reason of things. --Atterbury.
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