The word "short" is most commonly used as an adjective either to describe something lasting or taking a small amount of time - for example, "a short bus ride" - or to measure a small distance from a certain point to another - for example, "I have short hair".
Due to the introduction of technology, "short" has broadened in semantic meaning. For example, "short" can now be used when referring to an electrical item that has "short-circuited". However, this requires pragmatic understanding of how technology works and how it can go wrong.
Ngram viewer shows a decline in the use of the word "short" since the 1800's. This could be due to negative connotations associated with the word "short". For example, to be short could be seen as making you more disadvantaged than those of other heights. As a result, to be politically correct people previously described as "short" may now be referred to as "vertically challenged".
"Short" is now also used in a colloquial sense in slang amongst society. For exapmle, people may say "I'm a bit short" but not in refference to their height but rather the fact they do not have enough money for something. This means that it can be used as an off the record, indirect way of asking for money.
The word "short" is originally Germanic and in old English was "sceort". It is related to the word "skirt". It could have chamged to "short" due to giving a way for people to describe the length of the skirt.
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