runtyadj.

1807 Salmagundi 20 Mar. 107 A trio of as odd, runty, mummy-looking originals as ever Hogarth fancied in his most happy moments.

1834 J. W. Burgon Let. 18 Sept. in E. M. Goulburn J. W. Burgon (1892) I. 81 These runty little thick-set Yorkshire men seem to consider me as a wild beast escaped from some show.

1889 Louisiana Planter & Sugar Manufacturer 5 Oct. 210/1 The only growth is from the runty or weak eyes that did not germinate in the autumn.

1903 J. London People of Abyss xii. 143 We cannot understand the starved and runty toiler of the East End..till we look at the strapping Life Guardsmen of the West End.

1974 Sci. Amer. Nov. 61/1 The treated birds were runty and deficient in lymphocytes; all cell-mediated immune functions were suppressed.

1990 M. Dickens Closed at Dusk (1991) iii. 30 She used to take the runty ones [sc. lambs] the farmers would have let die and give them a proper chance at life.

1823 E. Moor Suffolk Words 324 Runty, obstinate—angry—ill-willed. It is applied to persons as well as to beasts.

1839 C. Clark John Noakes & Mary Styles 28 John's maid, too, now, hafe runty was—At any rate, she frown'd.

1868 ‘T. Treddlehoyle’ Bairnsla Foaks' Ann. 4 An to it all, this bit of advice, for them not to turn runty.

1923 E. Gepp Essex Dial. Dict. (ed. 2) 95 Runty, cross, ill-tempered.

1995 J. M. Sims-Kimbrey Wodds & Doggerybaw: Lincs. Dial. Dict. (at cited word) 'E were that runty yestdy I dint get a smile or a polite word out on 'im all day.

1848 W. T. Thompson Major Jones's Sketches Trav. xiii. 115 ‘No, indeed,’ ses another little runty-lookin feller—‘we've got enuff to do to take care of our own babys in these diggins.’

1909 M. M. Hastings Dollar Hen xvi. 205 Pick out all runty looking pullets and cut off the last joint of the hind toe.

2001 Guardian 21 Apr. (Guide Suppl.) 4/3 That runty-looking bloke from St Elsewhere.