shorties

Noun

shorty (plural shorties)

1. (derogatory, informal, sometimes) Something or someone that is shorter than normal.
   • A rock fishing expedition doesn't involve a lot of paraphernalia. Mick had brought his short rod with the overhead style, egg-beater reel they use off boats. 'The shorty's good for the fight.'2001 December 2, Rhidian Brook, “On the rocks”, in The Observer, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 06 Dec 2025
2. (informal) A term of endearment for a child, younger sibling, shorter person, etc.
3. (slang, chiefly African-American Vernacular) A child.
   • "I think we loved 'The Bridge Is Over' more than anybody else," says Nas, who was just a shorty when he first heard the opening shot.1995, Vibe, page 102
4. (slang, chiefly African-American Vernacular) An attractive young female, especially one who is sexually available.
   • I guarantee, shorty, it's real, baby, stick it out / [...] / You talk a good one, shorty, now you're makin' me sweat1996, “Doin' It”, in Mr. Smith, performed by LL Cool J
5. (slang, chiefly African-American Vernacular) A girlfriend.
   • These are the things that separate a date from a fiancee, a shorty from a wife, a one-night stand from a lifetime commitment.2003, Ebony, page 34
6. A short-legged and sleeveless or short-sleeved wetsuit.
   • However, many buy a wetsuit, because it can be pretty unpleasant to put on a musty hire suit. There are various thickness options, but a good compromise is a 5mm one-piece wetsuit and a 5mm 'shorty' worn over the top. (In warmer climes, use either suit on its own).2006 December 8, “All you need to know about: Scuba diving”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 28 Sep 2014

See all 10 meanings of shorty

Noun

shorts pl (plural only)

1. (plural, plural-only) A garment worn over the pelvic area ending above the knees, not covering the entire length of the leg, designed for warm weather or for sports.
   • Jessica hated covering her legs, so she usually wore shorts.
2. (dated, plural, plural-only) Underpants.
   • After a scare like that, you might need to change your shorts.
3. (plural, plural-only, uncountable) Remnants, clippings, trimmings of production processes.
4. (plural, plural-only) The part of milled grain sifted out which is next finer than the bran; pollard.
   • […]the first remove above bran is shorts ; the next above that is sharps1847, James Orchard Halliwell, A Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words, volume II, →OCLC, page 822
5. (plural, plural-only) Short, inferior hemp.