undershot

American  

[uhn-der-shot, uhn-der-shot] / ˈʌn dərˌʃɒt, ˌʌn dərˈʃɒt /

adjective

1. having the front teeth of the lower jaw projecting in front of the upper teeth, as a bulldog.

2. driven by water passing beneath.

   an undershot vertical water wheel.

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verb

1. simple past tense and past participle of undershoot.

undershot British  

/ ˈʌndəˌʃɒt /

adjective

1. (of the lower jaw) projecting beyond the upper jaw; underhung

2. (of a water wheel) driven by a flow of water that passes under the wheel rather than over it See overshot

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Etymology

Origin of undershot

First recorded in 1600–10; under- + shot ²

Example Sentences

Growth in nonfarm payrolls has undershot its longer-run average for two years.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

The history of the building also captivated Brendan - it is an undershot watermill, which means water flows underneath the waterwheel, striking the paddles at the bottom.

From BBC • Jan. 24, 2026

Global silver supplies undershot demand for a fifth year in a row in 2025, according to the Silver Institute.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 10, 2025

The result undershot the forecast of 49.3 made by economists in a Wall Street Journal survey.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 30, 2025

How deep into the water should the paddles of an undershot wheel go?

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton