def _shorten_key(telstate, key):
    """Shorten telstate key by subtracting the first prefix that fits.

    Parameters
    ----------
    telstate : :class:`katdal.sensordata.TelstateToStr` object
        Telescope state
    key : string
        Telescope state key

    Returns
    -------
    short_key : string
        Suffix of `key` after subtracting first matching prefix, or empty
        string if `key` does not start with any of the prefixes (or exactly
        matches a prefix, which is also considered pathological)

    """
    for prefix in telstate.prefixes:
        if key.startswith(prefix):
            return key[len(prefix):]
    return ''
