Definition of "gaunt"

Hanging from the beam, Slowly swaying (such the law),Gaunt the shadow on your green, Shenandoah!

1866, Herman Melville, Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War‎, The Portent

A gaunt Wolf was almost dead with hunger when he happened to meet a House-dog who was passing by.

1894, Joseph Jacobs, chapter 1, in The Fables of Aesop‎, archived from the original on 28 February 2011

Far away I saw a gaunt cat slink crouchingly along a wall, but traces of men there were none.

1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, page 239

In the dim light of a foggy November day the sick room was a gloomy spot, but it was that gaunt, wasted face staring at me from the bed which sent a chill to my heart.

1917, Arthur Conan Doyle, chapter 5, in His Last Bow‎, archived from the original on 6 April 2012

The present stage of progress in Christian Science presents two opposite aspects, — a full-orbed promise, and a gaunt want.

1896, Mary Baker Eddy, “The Way”, in Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896‎, page 355

Behind me, rose up, to an extraordinary height, gaunt, black cliffs.

1908, William Hope Hodgson, chapter 14, in The House on the Borderland‎, archived from the original on 14 April 2012