Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US black) to abruptly stop someone from moving or carrying on with what they are doing; to intercept.

1967		(con. 1930s) R. McKenna Sons of Martha 144: Hey, sweetheart! [...] I got shortstopped for a drink.
1977		R. Dennis Hump’s First Case 1346: ‘[H]e has to find a way to shortstop her’.
1984		A. Sample (con. 1920s) Racehoss 24: [of juvenile prostitutes] Taking it directly to the frontlines, they were short-stopping the traffic before it got to town.

2. (US) to take food as it is being passed to someone else at a meal.

1960, 1975

Wentworth & Flexner DAS.