short
Preserved but no longer current.
When spirit is drunk without any admixture of water, it is said to be taken "SHORT;" "summat SHORT," a dram. A similar phrase is used at the counters of banks; upon presenting a cheque, the clerk asks, "How will you take it?" i.e., in gold, or notes. If in notes, long or short? Should it be desired to receive it in notes for the largest possible amount, the answer is, SHORT.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “short” mean?
When spirit is drunk without any admixture of water, it is said to be taken "SHORT;" "summat SHORT," a dram. A similar phrase is used at the counters of banks; upon presenting a cheque, the clerk asks, "How will you take it?" i.e., in gold, or notes. If in notes, long or short? Should it be desired to receive it in notes for the largest possible amount, the answer is, SHORT.
Is “short” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.