short-handed

[ shawrt-han-did ]

/ ˈʃɔrtˈhæn dɪd /

not having the usual or necessary number of workers, helpers, etc.

Origin of short-handed

First recorded in 1615–25

short-hand·ed·ness, noun

And because the immigration inspector rejected Kahtani, United Airlines Flight 93 was short-handed on 9/11.

A 9/11 Hero's Outrage |Michael Smerconish |July 24, 2010 |DAILY BEAST
He would never reach port, he complained, being so short-handed.

Masters of the Guild |L. Lamprey
Whatever be the cause, it reduces our short-handed crew still further.

The Dealings of Captain Sharkey |A. Conan Doyle
With sails unbent, and short-handed as we were, we could scarcely hope to be able to get under the lee of one of the islands.

In the Eastern Seas |W.H.G. Kingston

She was short-handed, and one or two of the men were creating additional difficulties.

South! |Sir Ernest Shackleton
That they were river pirates there is not a doubt; and had we been short-handed there would have been trouble.

The houseboat book |William F. Waugh

short-handed

lacking the usual or necessary number of assistants, workers, etc

sport, US and Canadian with less than the full complement of players

short-handedness, noun