Part 349

To sell short (Stock Exchange), to sell, for future delivery, what the party selling does not own, but hopes to buy at a lower rate.

Short, v. t. [AS. sceortian.] To shorten. [Obs.]

Short, v. i. To fail; to decrease. [Obs.]

Short"age (?), n. Amount or extent of deficiency, as determined by some requirement or standard; as, a shortage in money accounts.

Short"-breathed` (?), a. 1. Having short-breath, or quick respiration.

2. Having short life.

Short"cake` (?), n. An unsweetened breakfast cake shortened with butter or lard, rolled thin, and baked.

Short" cir"cuit (?). (Elec.) A circuit formed or closed by a conductor of relatively low resistance because shorter or of relatively great conductivity.

Short"-cir`cuit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Short-circuited; p. pr. & vb. n. Short-circuiting.] (Elec.) To join, as the electrodes of a battery or dynamo or any two points of a circuit, by a conductor of low resistance.

Short"clothes` (?), n. Coverings for the legs of men or boys, consisting of trousers which reach only to the knees, -- worn with long stockings.

Short"com`ing (?), n. The act of falling, or coming short; as: (a) The failure of a crop, or the like. (b) Neglect of, or failure in, performance of duty.

Short"-dat`ed (?), a. Having little time to run from the date. "Thy short-dated life." Sandys.

Short"en (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shortened &?;; p. pr. & vb. n. Shortening.] [See Short, a.] 1. To make short or shorter in measure, extent, or time; as, to shorten distance; to shorten a road; to shorten days of calamity.

2. To reduce or diminish in amount, quantity, or extent; to lessen; to abridge; to curtail; to contract; as, to shorten work, an allowance of food, etc.

Here, where the subject is so fruitful, I am shortened by my chain.

Dryden.

3. To make deficient (as to); to deprive; -- with of.

Spoiled of his nose, and shortened of his ears.

Dryden.

4. To make short or friable, as pastry, with butter, lard, pot liquor, or the like.

To shorten a rope (Naut.), to take in the slack of it. -- To shorten sail (Naut.), to reduce sail by taking it in.

Short"en, v. i. To become short or shorter; as, the day shortens in northern latitudes from June to December; a metallic rod shortens by cold.

Short"en*er (?), n. One who, or that which, shortens.

Short"en*ing, n. 1. The act of making or becoming short or shorter.

2. (Cookery) That which renders pastry short or friable, as butter, lard, etc.

Short"hand` (?), n. A compendious and rapid method or writing by substituting characters, abbreviations, or symbols, for letters, words, etc.; short writing; stenography. See Illust. under Phonography.

Short`-hand"ed, a. Short of, or lacking the regular number of, servants or helpers.

Short"head` (?), n. A sucking whale less than one year old; -- so called by sailors.