short
UK[ʃɔːt]US[ʃɔːrt]
adj
Measuring a small distance from one end to the other
adj
Lasting or taking a small amount of time
adj
Not having enough of something; lacking
v
To cause a short circuit in an electrical device
n
A short circuit
n
A short film
Etymology
The word 'short' originates from the Old English 'sceort', which itself is of Proto-Germanic origin, related to Old High German 'scurz' and Old Norse 'skortr' meaning a lack. Its ultimate root is the Proto-Indo-European (s)ker-, meaning "to cut," a sense which evolved into the concept of something being cut off or abbreviated. This etymological journey from the concrete action of cutting to the abstract qualities of limited length, duration, or deficiency illustrates a common semantic shift. The modern meanings encompassing physical length, temporal brevity, and insufficiency all logically stem from this core idea of being cut down or not extending far.
Analysis
The word 'short' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It cannot be meaningfully segmented into smaller morphemes within modern English spelling.
Examples
She has short, curly hair.
We had a short meeting to discuss the main points.
The company is short of funds for the new project.