Etymology: < stint v.In certain senses this noun seems to have coalesced with the etymologically unrelated stent n.¹ Compare the similar confusion noted under stint v.

Etymology: Of obscure origin.

Etymology: Old English styntan to blunt, dull; the simple verb occurs only once (in Corpus Gloss., rendering Latin hebetare ), but compare the compounds ástyntan , to blunt, dull, to check, stop (Middle English astint v.), ætstyntan to blunt (teeth), make ineffective (Middle English atstunt v.), forstyntan to blunt. The Old English verb corresponds formally to Old Scandinavian *stynta (Middle Swedish stynta , Old Icelandic stytta ) to shorten < Germanic type *stuntjan , < *stunto- adjective (Old English stunt stupid, foolish, Middle High German stunz stumpy, Middle Swedish stunt-er , Old Icelandic stutt-r short, scanty: compare stunt adj., stunt v.¹). It is uncertain whether the Middle English and modern English senses of the verb are developed from unrecorded senses in Old English, or are due to Scandinavian influence. In certain uses this verb closely approaches in meaning the etymologically unrelated stent v.¹ Apparently some confusion has taken place between the two verbs, and as the phonetic variants stent, stint are common to both, it is sometimes doubtful to which verb a particular use belongs.