How Does Stent Vary from Stint?

Stent and stint are not at all related in meaning.  Stent is a noun, belonging to medical procedures.  Stint can be a noun or a verb.

A stent is a tiny wire mesh tube. It is used to open an artery and is left there permanently. When an artery feeding the heart muscle is narrowed by a build-up of plaque (fatty deposits in the artery), reduced blood flow occurs. If blood flow is reduced to the heart muscle, chest pain can result. If a clot forms and completely blocks the blood flow to part of the heart muscle, a heart attack results. Stents help keep coronary arteries open and reduce the chance of a heart attack.

The stent was invented in the mid 19th century by a British dentist called Charles Stent.   He created a compound (mixture of stearine, gutta-percha and talc) which was successfully used by dentists.  Much later a Dutch plastic surgeon found that this compound could be used to form moulds to keep skin grafts in place.  Today, a stent is most commonly described as a short narrow metal or plastic tube often in the form of a mesh that is inserted into an anatomical tube such as an artery or a bile duct, to reopen a blocked passageway.  Below are examples of the use of the word stent.

• James had a heart attack but he is recovering well after a stent was put in.
• Surgical insertion of a stent is easier on the patient than open heart surgery.
• A stent helps to keep the artery open so blood can flow smoothly.
• Sometimes stents have to be replaced due to reappearance of plaque.

On the other hand, to stint is a verb which means to be stingy, sparing or frugal, or to use something or give something in limited amounts.  Below are some examples:

• The judges were not stinting in their praise of the winning singer.  The judges were generous in their praise of the winning singer.
• It was a surprise that the Principal actually congratulated me, since he is usually very stinting with his praise.  It was a surprise that the Principal actually congratulated me, since he is usually not given to praising anyone.
• She does not stint with food for her family even though she earns very little.
  She is not frugal with food for her family even though she earns very little.
• Most restaurants stint on the amount of liquor poured into a glass.
  Most restaurants are stingy about the amount of liquor poured into a glass.
• Robert is a great host.  He does not stint on drink and food for his parties.
  Robert is a great host.  He is generous with drink and food for his parties.
• We just bought an apartment but now we have to stint on our shopping to pay back the mortgage.  We just bought an apartment but now we have to cut down on our shopping to pay back the mortgage.
• Don’t stint with the ice-cream.  I want more.  Don’t be stingy with the ice-cream.  I want more.

Stint can also be a noun which means a period of time spent doing a certain job or activity.  Consider the following examples:

• I did a short stint in China as an English language teacher.  I spent a short time in China as an English language teacher.
• During his school holidays he did a stint as a postman.  During his school holidays, he worked as a postman.
• Michael had a one-year stint with the boy scouts.  Michael was active with the boy scouts for one year.

• My stint working with the airlines resulted in seeing the world.  The period that I worked for the airlines resulted in seeing the world.
• Rachel’s stint as a nurse did not last long as she could not handle terminally ill patients.  Rachel’s nursing career did not last long, as she could not handle terminally ill patients.
• The doctor’s stint in Afghanistan was abruptly cut short due to danger to his life.  The doctor had to cut short his assignment in Afghanistan due to danger to his life.
• Mary’s stint as an actress in a Broadway play led to several new roles for her.  Mary’s role as an actress in a Broadway play, led to several new roles for her.

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