STINT

I. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English styntan to blunt, dull; akin to Old Norse stuttr scant Date: 13th century intransitive verb stop , desist , to be sparing or frugal , transitive verb to put an end to ; stop , 2. to limit within certain boundaries, to restrict with respect to a share or allowance , ~er noun II. noun Date: 1593 1. a definite quantity of work assigned, a period of time spent at a particular activity , restraint , limitation , see: task III. noun (plural ~s; also ~) Etymology: Middle English stynte Date: 15th century any of several small sandpipers (genus Calidris )