Word of the Day: STINT
A stretch of time or sparing of effort
stint (noun) - a period or length of time; a fixed or allotted supply or amount of work [stint]
stint as a verb means to spare, skimp, or restrict
a stint is a sandpiper in the genus Calidris
BREAKDOWN: The word stint, most commonly used in modern times to describe a variable stretch of time, has many meanings that have fallen out of use, mostly related to its connection to the Old English styntan meaning to make blunt and Proto-Germanic stintaną meaning to make short. Stint is related to the word stunt, especially in the sense of meaning to shorten. Birders also employ stint to reference any of a number of nearly identical wading birds.
"If you have confidence in your own words, aspirations, thoughts, and actions and do your very best, you will have no need to regret the outcome of what you do. Fear and trembling are lot of the person who, while stinting effort, hopes that everything will come out precisely as he wants." —Mas Oyama
[Our Wednesday Wildcards are fascinating and important words that are not necessarily derived from classical roots.]