The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Short circuit \Short" cir"cuit\ (Elec.)
   A circuit formed or closed by a conductor of relatively low
   resistance because shorter or of relatively great
   conductivity.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

short circuit
    n 1: accidental contact between two points in an electric
         circuit that have a potential difference [syn: short
         circuit, short]