Etymology: Origin uncertain. In sense 1 perhaps originally < Dutch rund ox (Middle Dutch runt , ront : see rother n.), but if so probably influenced early by association with a word of different origin represented by sense 2; it is thus possible that two originally separate words may have merged; however, if so, the origin of the word represented by sense 2 is unknown. K. Malone in Language 20 (1944) 87–8 suggests that the word is cognate with Old Icelandic hrotti coarse, rude person, (in poetry) a sword, and Old Danish runte long pole used for jumping over a ditch (of uncertain origin), and perhaps also with Old Icelandic hrunki a brute, a big, strong man (also of uncertain origin, perhaps not related to hrotti ), although this assumes an early radical divergence in meaning. Sense 4a is unusual in denoting an uncommonly large rather than an uncommonly small animal; perhaps it may have arisen from the uses denoting a fattened animal in senses 1a and 1b.

Etymology: Origin unknown. Compare arunt v.The difference in meaning makes a connection with Old French runeter to whisper, to murmur (12th cent.) extremely unlikely.