"short commons" meaning in English

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      "expansion": "short commons pl (plural only)",
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  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
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          "ref": "1838, Boz [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy’s Progress. […], volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), London: Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC:",
          "text": "The master, in his cook's uniform, stationed himself at the copper; his pauper assistants ranged themselves behind him; the gruel was served out; and a long grace was said over the short commons.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1868–1869, Louisa M[ay] Alcott, Little Women: […], (please specify |part=1 or 2), Boston, Mass.: Roberts Brothers, →OCLC:",
          "text": "Kitty, the cook, who took life 'aisy', kept him on short commons.",
          "type": "quote"
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      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Meagre rations."
      ],
      "id": "en-short_commons-en-noun-X82-Kwk~",
      "links": [
        [
          "Meagre",
          "meagre"
        ],
        [
          "rations",
          "rations"
        ]
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      "raw_glosses": [
        "(sometimes figurative) Meagre rations."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively",
        "plural",
        "plural-only",
        "sometimes"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "short commons"
}

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  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
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          "ref": "1838, Boz [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy’s Progress. […], volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), London: Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC:",
          "text": "The master, in his cook's uniform, stationed himself at the copper; his pauper assistants ranged themselves behind him; the gruel was served out; and a long grace was said over the short commons.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1868–1869, Louisa M[ay] Alcott, Little Women: […], (please specify |part=1 or 2), Boston, Mass.: Roberts Brothers, →OCLC:",
          "text": "Kitty, the cook, who took life 'aisy', kept him on short commons.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Meagre rations."
      ],
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          "rations",
          "rations"
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        "(sometimes figurative) Meagre rations."
      ],
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  "word": "short commons"
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