short-handed

The Sterling was short-handed this passage, mustering but four hands in a watch.

They're short-handed anyhow and a fellow likes to help what he can.

We were too short-handed ourselves to spare a single soldier.

“We are short-handed enough as it is,” he told me, when he joined us on the poop.

When a ship has an insufficient complement, or is short-handed.

I don't like to leave you short-handed if there's to be trouble.

It was soon done, although we were, comparatively speaking, short-handed.

We don't want to start back for Manila short-handed if we can help it.

We had to take this precaution, of having so many buntlines, as we were short-handed.

Nice couple to send me, and short-handed in the stoke hole, as it is.