pinchpenny

English

Etymology

pinch + penny

Noun

pinchpenny (plural pinchpennies)

  1. One who spends little money; one who is very frugal or cautious with money. [from before 1578]
    Over the years, he developed a reputation as a pinchpenny who wouldn't spend money for anything.
    • 1578, John Lyly, Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit, published 1868, page 109:
      That they accompt one a dastard if he be not defperate, a pynch penny if he be not prodygall, if filent a fotte, if full of wordes a foole?

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