From the basis of two words for 'seal', rant and rännkut, this article discusses a motive of designation for denoting the semantic fiels rut and ruttish animals in Swedish dialects. The motive refers to the ruttish animals' habit of running around restlessly. The words which are associated with this motive emanate from verbs meaning 'move (swiftly)'. In the article, the productive verbs, ränna, löpa, fara and gå are discussed. The original meaning of the verbs, 'move (swiftly)', has probably shifted from referring tho the movement of the animals to the cause of the movement, the rut.