runt

The word 'runt' entered English in the early 16th century, originally referring to an old, withered tree stump. Its precise origin is uncertain, but it is strongly associated with Dutch and Low German dialects. The semantic shift from a stunted plant to the smallest and weakest animal in a litter is a clear and logical metaphorical extension, focusing on the shared qualities of being undersized, leftover, or not fully developed. By the 18th century, this zoological sense was firmly established, and it later acquired a derogatory application to small or insignificant people, completing its journey from a concrete object to a term for biological and social smallness.

This word is considered a simplex form. It is a loanword, likely from the Dutch dialect word 'runt', meaning an old or decayed tree stump, which was later applied to small, weak animals.