Scant (adjective)

1. Meager, lacking or insufficient in amount or quantity.
2. Barely enough or not enough to meet a need or requirement.
3. Limited or barely sufficient in amount or quantity.

Origin:

From middle english scant, from old english sċeant ("scanty, scant, scanty"), from proto-germanic *skantaz ("scanty, scarce"), from proto-indo-european *sker- ("to cut, to shear").

Examples:

1. The food was scant and the portions were small.
2. She had scant knowledge of the subject.
3. The evidence was scant and inconclusive.
4. He had a scant amount of money.
5. She had scant hope of recovery.