Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a fig. image of female promiscuity; thus used as a nickname in cits. 1596 and 1633; thus short-heeled adj. (cf. light heels n.; roundheels n. (2)).

1541		Gosynhill ? Scole house of Women Cv: So shorte of hele, they be ouer al That and yf ye blowe, they must nedes fal.
c.1545		J. Heywood Foure PP 721: Her hed so gydy and her helys so shorte That [...] Downe wolde she falle euyn by-and-by.
1580		Lyly Euphues and his England (1916) 403: In letting your course by striking at your short heels you would, when I should crave pardon, show me a high instep.
1596		Chapman Blind Beggar of Alexandria vii: Well, Madam Short-heels, I’ll be even with you.
1599		H. Porter Two Angry Women of Abington C3: Mistresse flurt – you foule strumpet Light aloue, short heeles, mistresse Goursey.
1606		E. Sharpham Fleire II i: For their shooes are so hie, and their heeles so short if they should not be led, thei’d play domesticke trickes abroad, and show all.
1611		Davies of Hereford Scourge of Folly II 28: Wiues of reaching’st wit Haue shortest heeles, and wondrous apt to fall.
1612		Chapman Widow’s Tears III i: Who commonly more short-heeled than they that are high i’th’ instep.
1614		Jonson Bartholomew Fair IV v: My delicate dark chestnut here [...] with a round belly, a plump butock, large thighs, knit knees, straight legs, short pasterns, smooth hoofs, and short heels.
1633		Rowley Match at Midnight V i: Doe not you passe under the name of Sue shortheeles, minion?
1696		Motteux (trans.) Gargantua and Pantagruel (1927) II Bk V 587: The pretty creatures [...] recovering at once the beauty, shape, size, and disposition which they enjoyed at sixteen; except their heels, that were now much shorter than in their former youth. This made them yet more apt to fall backwards whenever any man happened to touch ’em.