English dialect scant scanty supply, from Middle English, from Old Norse skamt, from neuter of skammr short
adjective
limited or less than sufficient in degree, quantity, or extent
meagerscantyscantskimpysparesparse mean falling short of what is normal, necessary, or desirable. meager implies the absence of elements, qualities, or numbers necessary to a thing's richness, substance, or potency. scanty stresses insufficiency in amount, quantity, or extent.