The　diffraction　of　short-crested　waves　around　an　elliptical　cylinder　is　solved　using　the　elliptical　coordinates,　and　an　analytical　solution　is　obtained　in　terms　of　Mathieu　and　modified　Mathieu　functions.　Analytical　expressions　for　the　pressure,　the　water　run-up　and　the　total　wave　forces　on　an　elliptical　cylinder　are　also　derived　in　this　study.　The　wave　run-up　of　short-crested　waves　on　an　elliptical　cylinder　is　quite　different　from　that　of　a　plane　incident　wave.　The　maxima　and　location　of　the　wave　run-up　as　well　as　the　total　wave　forces　are　affected　significantly　by　the　incident　angle　and　wave　phase.　Moreover,　the　total　wave　forces　induced　by　the　short-crested　wave　on　a　circular　cylinder　is　overall　smaller　than　that　induced　by　the　plane　wave　with　the　same　wave　number,　but　in　some　cases　the　total　wave　forces　induced　by　the　short-crested　waves　on　an　elliptical　cylinder　may　be　larger　than　that　induced　by　the　plane　wave.　Thus,　it　is　necessary　to　take　the　short-crested　wave　forces　in　to　account　in　the　design　of　an　offshore　structure　with　elliptical　cross-section.　(C)　2018　Elsevier　Masson　SAS.　All　rights　reserved.