shorty

Etymology

From short + -y.

noun

1. (informal) A short person.
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
   Like one day when I was just a shorty my mother was drinking a beer and a policeman told her to pour it out. He was way too little to be saying that to my mother. No way I was going to let him put handcuffs on her. 1997, William Ayers, A kind and just parent: the children of juvenile court, Beacon Pr
   Ever since they introduced the world to Patrick Ewing and Michael Graham, Georgetown has been the Black school of choice for every shorty … 1997, Robert Jackson, The Darkside: Chronicling the Young Black Experience, Noble Press Incorporated
   “Girl when I was just a shorty, some cats from New York came through putting down there work and muscling anybody too weak for the streets, but anyway they shot my oldest brother, who was alright with Ju and them. 2012, Julius B. Black, Married To The Game, AuthorHouse, page 13
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 sweat 1996, “Doin' It”, in Mr. Smith, performed by LL Cool J
   But seeing my boy on the cover of your magazine with three fine shorties made me think twice about the assumptions I've made. 1999, Vibe
   “Yo, man,” Vincent looked up at Sharif. “How is it that you always have the fine shorties hanging out at your crib?” 2006, Karen E. Quinones Miller, Uptown Dreams, Simon and Schuster, page 38
   Shawty I can see that you got so much energy, / The way you twirling up them hips round and round 2008, “Just Dance”, in The Fame, performed by Lady Gaga feat. Colby O'Donis
   "It wasn't that fine ass shorty I saw in the car earlier?" Travis inquired. 2015, Ashon Thadon, Unpunished: some deeds go that way, BookRix
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
   Demarco said pulling down his cap “Yeah, that's what I be hearing, my shorty told me how Shelly be bragging about the time ya'll had.” 2011, A.D. King, "Nola's Island": Vacation From Degradation, Trafford Publishing, page 47
   I should be playin' in the winter snow, but I'ma be under the mistletoe / With you, shawty with you 2011, “Mistletoe”, in Under the Mistletoe, performed by Justin Bieber
   My shorty called my baby moms, I'm in some shit, and all my real gear at shorty crib. 2012, Edd Mcnair, Turning Point, Urban Books, page 42
   It was my birthday weekend, and one of my shorties decided she wanted to take a playa to Amsterdam to celebrate, we took a sightseeing tour bus and we saw everything there was to see. 2013, Jah King Entertainment, Time 2 Set It Off!: downloadable copy, Jah King Inc., page 90
   I don't give a fuck, what he wants from me, I'll give him anything to get my shorty back, I swear, he better not have hurt or touched my shorty, or I'm a kill 'em when I see'em. 2014, Antonio Harriston, Lust, Money, Envy, iUniverse, page 169

pron

1. (African-American Vernacular, slang) she or her, especially of a younger woman
   Shorty really killed this 😭 Feb 5, 2023, Za Morant (@APotOfGold_), Twitter
   I asked shorty for her name and she said “earn it” Feb 1, 2023, Hoodville (@Hoodville_), Twitter
   Shorty said Feb 5, 2023, The Sound Hashira (@chillixci), Twitter
   shorty concussed and she said not my problem 😭 Feb 1, 2023, Chronic E (@therealchronice), Twitter
   Me tryna show shorty I’m just as useful as that toy Jan 29, 2023, @Squid_wurdz on IG (@squid_wurdz), Twitter