Etymology

run-in

Today it means: An encounter; a scrape or brush, especially one involving trouble or difficulty. Full definition →

Ask AI about its historyChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

run-in · noun1

Derived from the verb run into. For the meaning "end-phase", it presumably comes a marathon race, where in the final part the runners run into the stadium and complete a lap.

run-in · adjective2

Derived from the verb run in.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.