short commons
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Short allowance of food. See COMMONS.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
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 commons” mean?
Short allowance of food. See COMMONS.
Is “short commons” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.