A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1501-1513, 1584-1602
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Runt, n. Also: rwnt; ront. [e.m.E. runt (1601), runt-tree (1603), of unknown origin. Also in the later dial.] A dried-up and decayed stock (? and branches) of a tree. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 151.
Not throw the soyl bot muskane treis sproutit, Combust, barrant, vnblomit and vnleifit, Auld rottin runtis quhairen na sap was leifit 1501 Ib. 159.
The quhissilling wind blew mony bitter blast, Runtis rattillit and vneith micht I stand 1513 Id. Æn. viii vi 10.
Ane kynd of men yborn, but leys, Furth of ald stokkis and hard runtis of treis c1590 J. Stewart 39/330.
And all his hyd most lyk ane skrimplit ront
b. specif. A dried-up cabbage stalk. 1602 Dundonald Par. Rec. 7.
Scho … seithit kaill rwntis in watter for ane ill … scho had in hir head
c. Applied, contemptuously, to the male organ, or to a person. a1585 Polwart Flyt. 822 (T).
With a cunt deid runt I sall dunt quhill I flie thé [H. Jocke Blunt deid runt … whill I sla thee]
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"Runt n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/runt>
