shorthanded

From short +‎ handed.

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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:

     "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, 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.
   • 1992, Ray Zee, High-Low-Split Poker, Seven-Card Stud and Omaha Eight-Or-Better for Advanced Players:

     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.

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, 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:

     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:

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

• short-staffed
• understaffed
• undermanned

shorthanded

1. simple past and past participle of shorthand

• shorthand