What does "short-time" mean?

To reduce the amount of workhours in a given time period.

Short-time

adj, verb

adj, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level

Verb

1
To reduce the amount of workhours in a given time period. transitive
"The United Steelworkers have estimated that some 40,000 workers have been laid off and that many more have been short-timed."
2
To hire or be hired as a sex worker for the time period that ends when ejaculation is reached. Vietnam
"A freelance prostitute who was named the Indian Princess for the Indian costume she wore was a legend in Tong Du Chon. This young lady only “short-timed” officers generally in the rank of major or above."
3
To cut short the duration of something. transitive
"But our poet's happiness was short-timed, for both mother and child died shortly after, and both were buried in our church."

Adjective

1
Lasting a short time; of short duration.
"The average rate on short-time loans, based on these bank reports, is 10.75 per cent."
2
Occurring with a short time of a specific event.
"In this higher approximation to the short-time effects, the shock is no longer stationary or trapped unless it is supported by a negative steady-flow back pressure;"
3
Pertaining to work that has been short-timed.
"The short-time weekly benefit amount shall be the product of the regular weekly unemployment compensation amount multiplied by the percentage of reduction of at least 10 percent in the individual's usual weekly hours of work."
4
Of a sex worker, engaging customers for a brief sexual encounter rather than an extended period such as the whole night.
"[A]ll the wise young men and old foolish devils on the Northside who didn’t fancy paying for a high time with the worldly short-time Army whores of Chadla’s brothels."

"The average rate on short-time loans, based on these bank reports, is 10.75 per cent."

From short time.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.