Stunt
/stʌnt/noun
A difficult or showy feat or act, especially one done to attract attention.
Did you know?The word *stunt* began as a verb meaning “to check or hinder growth,” and only later shifted into the idea of a spectacular feat—like turning blockage into performance.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
stunt
“dull, foolish, or stupid”
Middle English
English
stunten
“to make short, blunt, or to hinder growth”
16th Century
English
stunt
“to check the growth of; to make stunted”
19th Century
English
stunt
“a feat or trick, especially for display or publicity”
Modern English
English
stunt
“a daring or showy act, especially in entertainment or advertising”