Definition of: scant

(skant) adjective
1. Scarcely enough; meager in measure or quantity.
2. Being just short of the measure specified; of limited extent: often with the indefinite article even with a plural noun: a scant half-hour, a scant five yards.
3. Insufficiently supplied with something: with of: We were scant of breath. See synonyms under SCANTY.
—v.t.
1. To restrict or limit in supply; stint.
2. To treat briefly or inadequately. See synonyms under SCRIMP.
—adverb Dial. Scarcely; barely; not quite. [<ON skamt, neut. of skammr short]
—scant′ly adverb
—scant′ness noun