scrimp

Meanings

Noun

• A pinching miser; a niggard.

Verb

• To make too small or short.
• To limit or straiten; to put on short allowance.
• To be frugal.

Adjective

• Short; scanty; curtailed.

Origin

• Probably from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German schrimpen, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *skrimpaną, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker-, related to Old English sċrimman and sċrincan. Related to shrink, shrimp.