a1542 T. Wyatt Epit. Sir T. Gravener in Poet. Wks. 12 No sickness could him from it let; Which was the shortening of his days.

1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 160 He should neuer go about or attempt any thing, to the shortening or hurt of his grandfathers life or empire.

1796 C. Marshall Introd. Knowl. & Pract. Gardening xii. 190 The rule for shortening is this. Consider the strength of the tree, and the more vigorous the shoots are, cut off the less .

1869 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Agric. 1868 249 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (40th Congr., 3rd Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc.) XV As in the case of shortening back to induce the growth of fruit spurs in the apple tree.

1886 Magee in Contemp. Rev. Jan. 15 Oaths of allegiance, supremacy and abjuration have shrunk, after many lengthenings and shortenings, into the brief and simple form [etc.].

1796 A. Simmons Amer. Cookery 34 Loaf Cakes No. 2 Rub 4 pound of sugar, 3 and a half pound of shortning, (half butter and half lard) into 9 pound of flour.

1823 E. Moor Suffolk Words 346 Shortning, suet or butter, in cake, crust, or bread.

1854 S. Smith Way down East 333 We have n't got a bit of shortnin' in the house.

1883 Cassell's Family Mag. Nov. 758/2 The very reason for boiling the ‘shortening’ with water is that by liquefying the fat a minimum quantity of water can be used.

1970 A. L. Simon & R. Howe Dict. Gastron. 347/2 Shortening, a culinary term used more in the United States than in Britain and it applies to fats used in making breads, cakes, pastry etc. All fats, even oils, come under this nomenclature and are used because they make mixtures ‘short’ or tender.

1980 Blair & Ketchum's Country Jrnl. Oct. 34/3 2 tablespoons shortening.