short-winded

[ shawrt-win-did ]

adjective

1. short of breath; liable to difficulty in breathing.
2. brief or concise; to the point, as in speech or writing.

short-winded

adjective

1. tending to run out of breath, esp after exertion
2. (of speech or writing) terse or abrupt

Word History and Origins

Origin of short-winded¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Example Sentences

Indoors and back East he would probably have been a consumptive; out here, he was merely short-winded.

From Project Gutenberg

About the end of summer found himself short winded, and lost his appetite.

From Project Gutenberg

Recovering some of her breath, she gazed at her companion with a sort of short-winded archness.

From Project Gutenberg

The additional meal made them sluggish and short-winded, and they did not seem to thrive so well.

From Project Gutenberg

After the second test which was run at a "fast walk," I was not short-winded.

From Project Gutenberg