scant
UK: skænt | US: skænt
adj. barely sufficient in amount or quantity; meager
vt. to limit or restrict in amount; to skimp
The word "scant" traces back to Old Norse skammr, meaning "short" or "brief," reflecting the idea of insufficiency. It entered Middle English as skant, retaining its core sense of limited quantity. The suffix -t is a vestige of Old English adjectival forms, now semantically neutral. Over time, "scant" evolved to describe both the state of inadequacy (adjective) and the act of withholding (verb).
The team had scant resources to complete the project.
She gave the proposal only a scant glance before dismissing it.
Farmers faced scant rainfall this season, affecting crops.
He scanted his duties, leading to complaints.
The report provided scant evidence to support its claims.