shorten : Idioms & Phrases
Along of , Along on , often shortened to Long of
- prep. phr., owing to; on account of. Obs. or Low. Eng. "On me is not along thin evil fare." Chaucer. "And all this is long of you." Shak. "This increase of price is all along of the foreigners." London Punch.
Webster 1913
To shorten a rope
(Naut.) , to take in the slack of it.
Webster 1913
To shorten sail
(Naut.) , to reduce the extent of sail, or take in a part.(Naut.) , to reduce sail by taking it in.