Scant (?), a. [Compar.Scanter (?); superl.Scantest.] [Icel. skamt, neuter of skamr, skammr, short; cf. skamta to dole out, to portion.] 1. Not full, large, or plentiful; scarcely sufficient; less than is wanted for the purpose; scanty; meager; not enough; as, a scant allowance of provisions or water; a scant pattern of cloth for a garment.
His sermon was scant, in all, a quarter of an hour. Ridley.
2. Sparing; parsimonious; chary.
Be somewhat scanter of your maiden presence. Shak.
Syn. — See under Scanty.