Hypertext Webster Gateway: "rant"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Runt \Runt\, n. [Written also {rant}.] [Scot. runt an old cow,
an old, withered woman, a hardened stem or stalk, the trunk
of a tree; cf. D. rund a bullock, an ox or cow, G. rind. Cf.
{Rother}, a.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) Any animal which is unusually small, as
compared with others of its kind; -- applied particularly
to domestic animals.
2. (Zo["o]l.) A variety of domestic pigeon, related to the
barb and carrier.
3. A dwarf; also, a mean, despicable, boorish person; -- used
opprobriously.
Before I buy a bargain of such runts, I'll buy a
college for bears, and live among 'em. --Beau. & Fl.
4. The dead stump of a tree; also, the stem of a plant. [Obs.
or Prov. Eng.] --Halliwell.
Neither young poles nor old runts are durable.
--Holland.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Rant \Rant\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Ranted}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Ranting}.] [OD. ranten, randen, to dote, to be enraged.]
To rave in violent, high-sounding, or extravagant language,
without dignity of thought; to be noisy, boisterous, and
bombastic in talk or declamation; as, a ranting preacher.
Look where my ranting host of the Garter comes! --Shak.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Rant \Rant\, n.
High-sounding language, without importance or dignity of
thought; boisterous, empty declamation; bombast; as, the rant
of fanatics.
This is a stoical rant, without any foundation in the
nature of man or reason of things. --Atterbury.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
rant
n 1: a loud bombastic declamation expressed with strong emotion
[syn: {harangue}, {ranting}]
2: pompous or pretentious talk or writing [syn: {bombast}, {fustian},
{claptrap}, {blah}]
v : talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner [syn: {mouth
off}, {jabber}, {spout}, {rabbit on}, {rave}]
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