Also 5–6 stynt(e, 6 styntt. β. 6 stent. [Of obscure origin.] A common name for any of the smaller Sandpipers (genus Tringa), esp. the Dunlin. Also a provincial name for the Sanderling (Calidris arenaria).
α. 1466. Introniz. Abp. Nevell, in Leland, Collect. (1774), II. 6. Quayles and Styntes rost.
1519. in Archæologia, XXV. 422. iij Plovers, iij Spowes, & iij Stynts.
1531–2. Durh. Household Bk. (Surtees), 129. 6 dd stynts, 12 d. 11/2 dd dunlyngs, 6d.
1622. Drayton, Poly-olb., xxv. 339. For near this batning Isle [Axholme], in me is to be seen … The Puet, Godwin, Stint, the palate that allure.
1688, 1774, 1837. [see PURRE1].
1893. in Cozens-Hardy, Broad Norf., 49. There’s a rare mess of stints on Breydon sometimes.
1902. C. J. Cornish, Natur. on Thames, 245. Canvey Island…. Stints … were flitting everywhere … on the mud and ooze.
β. 1579. Stent [see STAMPINE].
b. With distinguishing prefix (see quots.).
1843. Yarrell, Brit. Birds, II. 643. The Little Sandpiper, or Little Stint … goes through seasonal changes of colour in its plumage.
1848. C. A. Johns, Week at Lizard, 331. Temminck’s Stint (Tringa Temminckii).—Very rare.
1898. Morris, Austral Eng., 439. The Australian species are Curlew Stint Tringa subarquata, Gmel. Little Stint T. ruficollis. Sharp-tailed Stint T. acuminata, Horsf.
