short-breathed, a.
(ˌʃɔːtˈbrɛθt)
[f. short a. + breath n. + -ed2.]
Short of breath; suffering from difficulty of breathing, dyspnœic.
| 1470–85 Malory Arthur viii. xxxix. 333 Sir Lamorak was so sore brysed and shorte brethed that he tracyd and trauercyd somwhat abak. 1620 Venner Via Recta vi. (1650) 100 It is very profitable for such as be asthmaticke or short-breathed. 1753 J. Bartlet Gentl. Farriery ix. (1754) 89 The horse..turns short-breathed with the least exercise. 1805 J. Whitaker in Polwhele's Tradit. (1826) II. 551 The air of London..is so loaded with sulphur..as to be almost pestilential to a short-breathed man. 1809 Malkin Gil Blas x. iii. (Rtldg.) 343 The deuce and all! stammered out my secretary, short-breathed with sudden admiration. 1911 Blackw. Mag. Sept. 306/2 Being short-breathed and unable to go up even a gentle hill without panting and puffing. |
b. fig. (Cf. short-winded.)
| 1845 Mrs. Browning Lett. (1899) I. 255 One should not be grateful for kindness only while it lasts: that would be short-breathed gratitude. |