short commons

Already they were getting used to much walking on short commons — shorter at any rate than what in the Shire they would have thought barely enough to keep them on their legs.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Meg looked worn and nervous, the babies absorbed every minute of her time, the house was neglected, and Kitty, the cook, who took life ‘aisy’, kept him on short commons.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

"You have lost neither stomach nor strength by the troubles, sergeant; the short commons of Charleston would have gone something against the grain with you, if you had stayed for that course of diet."

From Horse-Shoe Robinson A Tale of the Tory Ascendency by John Pendleton Kennedy

The town was not well supplied with provisions, and by the middle of October the defenders were on very short commons indeed.

From The Childrens' Story of the War, Volume 3 (of 10) by James Edward Parrott

The Surveyor also noticed the grimness of his wet face, and dallied a moment with the card he held, for he had known what fatigue and short commons were in his early days.

From A Damaged Reputation by Harold Bindloss