English

Adjective

shorthanded ‎(comparative more shorthanded, superlative most shorthanded)

1. Lacking sufficient staff or people, as for normal or efficient operations.

   The tiny restaurant usually got by with three workers on that shift, but found itself shorthanded when the tour bus pulled in.

   • 2009, Judy Christie, Gone to Green, ISBN 1426713614:

     "What are you doing out here?" I asked Iris. “We shorthanded?” She smiled. “We're always shorthanded, Miss Lois.

2. Having less than a quorum.
   • 1994, Alabama Court of Appeals, ‎Louisiana. Courts of Appeal, ‎Florida. District Court of Appeals, West's southern reporter, page 1120:

     Neither the code nor the case law discuss whether or how the power of a shorthanded school board should be curtailed

3. (team sports) Having, or occurring during an interval with, fewer than a full complement of players, often as the result of a penalty.
   • 2014, Jeremy Rutherford, 100 Things Blues Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die, ISBN 1600788181, page 246:

     “Scoring a shorthanded goal gives the team a lift,” Lefley said. “We've been picking our spots and making the most of them.

4. (poker, of a table) Having fewer than the standard number of players.
   • (Can we date this quote?) (Please provide the title of the work):

     Some of the ideas discussed in the Omaha eight-or-better section include general concepts, position, low hands, high hands, your starting hand, play on the flop, multi-way versus shorthanded play, scare cards, getting counterfeited, and your playing style.

Adverb

shorthanded ‎(comparative more shorthanded, superlative most shorthanded)

1. In a shorthanded manner.
   • 1997, David Wellman, The Union Makes Us Strong: Radical Unionism on the San Francisco Waterfront, ISBN 0521629683, page 274:

     "They were working shorthanded," said one PMA official, "this company's got a policy of releasing gangs working shorthanded."

   • 2013, Dr. Harry Barker, KICK-IT: A Fun Soccer Primer For Kids, ISBN 1630223107:

     A player may receive a red card any time without the player first receiving a yellow card. When a player gets a red card, they must leave the game and their team must play shorthanded.

   • 2011, Vines & McEvoy, How to Win No-Limit Hold'em Tournaments, ISBN 1580424848:

     Because most pots are played shorthanded, medium pocket pairs, as well as AK, AQ, and AJ, go up in value.

Translations

See also

• shorthand