short English · revision 2500

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 899 (Alfred's Boethius)|origins=ine-pro *sker-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ʃɔːt/, US /ʃɔːrt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|short]] (also [[m|enm|schort]]), [[inh|ang|sceort|t=of little length; not tall; brief]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[gem-pro|*skurtaz]],^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*sker-|t=to cut]], with the idea of something cut off.^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) Its relatives include [[goh|scurz]] and [[non|skorta|t=to be short of]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and Etymonline and Klein add [[la|curtus|t=short]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) It is related to [[shirt]] and [[skirt]],^(COED 2004)^(SOED 2002)^(Klein 1966) and to [[shear]] and [[curt]].^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of little length; not tall; brief: Old English ''sceort'', before 899, in Alfred's translation of Boethius.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of memory, ''short'' is from the mid-14th century.^(Etymonline) “Not up to the required amount” and “curt, rude” are from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline)^(HTOED) and Chaucer used ''in short'' about 1386.^(Barnhart 1988) “Brittle, crumbly”, as of pastry, is from the 15th century,^(Hoad 1986) the sense in ''shortbread'' (1801).^(Barnhart 1988) ''Fall short'' and “not reaching the mark” come from archery, in the 1540s.^(Etymonline) ''The short of it'' is from before 1586,^(Barnhart 1988) “easily provoked” from the 1590s,^(Etymonline) and “having too little” from the 1690s.^(Etymonline) ''Shorts'', short trousers, first appear in Disraeli's ''Vivian Grey'' (1826).^(Barnhart 1988) A short drink is from 1823, ''for short'' from 1845, and ''sell short'' from 1852.^(Etymonline) ''Shortage'' is American, from 1868.^(Barnhart 1988) The electrical ''short'' and the verb “to short-circuit” are from 1904–06,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and a short film from 1929.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 899 – Old English ''sceort'' (Alfred).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1325 – adverb (''Cursor Mundi'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – insufficient; curt.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1386 – ''in short'' (Chaucer).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1540s – falling short of a mark.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1801 – ''shortbread''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1826 – ''shorts'' (Disraeli).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1868 – ''shortage''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1904 – verb, to short-circuit.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1929 – a short film.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having little length; not long.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Having little height; not tall.^(AHD)

+ # Lasting a brief time.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Not reaching far enough; insufficient: ''short of money''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Brief and to the point; [[succinct]].^(AHD)

+ # Rudely brief; [[curt]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Of pastry, crisp and crumbly.^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # ''(phonetics)'' Of a vowel, brief in duration.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Abruptly: ''stop short''.^(AHD)

+ # Before reaching a limit or goal: ''fall short''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(finance)'' Without owning what one sells: ''sell short''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A short film.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(plural)'' Trousers ending at or above the knee.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # A [[short circuit]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To cause a short circuit in.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # To give less than is due; to [[short-change]].^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[shortness]]

+ * [[shortish]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[shirt]]

+ * [[skirt]]

+ * [[shear]]

+ * [[curt]]

+ * [[curtail]]

+ * [[kirtle]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}