'short-length' originates from Old English, specifically the words 'sceort' meaning 'short' and 'lengþu' meaning 'length'.

'sceort' and 'lengþu' combined in Middle English to form 'short-length', eventually becoming the modern English word 'short-length'.

Initially, it meant 'a small measure of length', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.