runtishadj.

a1642 H. Best Farming & Memorandum Bks. (1984) 6 Those usually that fall to grasse over soone proove shorte runtish sheepe.

1738 Briton Described 60 The Cattle, we saw most legible on their Mountains, were Goats and Heifers, a runtish Sort of Animals.

1770 C. Varlo New Syst. Husbandry I. xxii. 252 The east and north east winds mostly, which bring a bliting frost along with them, wounds the tender leading buds of the quicks, and makes them grow runtish, cankered, and dwarfy.

1805 R. W. Dickson Pract. Agric. II. 1124 This same kind of runtish coarse breed continues all the way to the Frith of Forth.

1860 D. R. Hundley Social Relations in our Southern States vii. 251 Who ever yet saw an athletic, healthy human being, standing six feet in his stockings, who was the offspring of runtish forefathers?

1904 O. P. Read ‘Turk’ xx. 298 Even though runtish, I was stronger than he ever was.

1974 ‘R. Tate’ Birds of Bloodied Feather ii. 30 The child..was about thirteen, runtish and not very clean.

1997 S. Pinker How Mind Works (1998) vii. 443 Most animals let their runtish or sickly offspring die.

1765 Treat. Domest. Pigeons 137 It is of a runtish make, and has a gravel eye.

1854 Cottage Gardener 9 Feb. 372/1 The gentleman who keeps the Laughing Pigeons should also keep the Trumpeter. Both birds being of the Runtish kind.

1883 Poultry Monthly (Albany, N.Y.) Mar. 44/1 The coarse Runtish (maned) birds are always bold looking, strong feeders.

1910 C. E. Brooke Poultry-keeping xv. 128 Whether the birds be Maltese..or any other derivative of the Leghorn and Spanish Runts..the runtish characteristics of size must predominate.