short-timer
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A soldier during the Vietnam War who had less than two months to serve.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Almost every Marine in Viet Nam carries a short-timer’s calendar of his tour of duty—the usual 365 days—plus a bonus of 20 days for being a Marine.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “short-timer” mean?
A soldier during the Vietnam War who had less than two months to serve.
Is “short-timer” formal or informal?
short-timer is generally slang.