skinflint en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈskɪnflɪnt/
Etymology
From the phrase skin a flint (“go to extreme lengths for the sake of gain or economy”), from the brittleness and hardness of flint which makes it almost impossible to remove just its skin without shattering it.
Meanings
-
One who is excessively stingy or cautious with money; a tightwad; a miser.
You know, he is quite a different sort from the Public Prosecutor and our other provincial skinflints--fellows who shiver in their shoes before they will spend a single kopeck.
1842, Gogol, Dead Souls, chapter 4
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| skinflints | Number=Plur | lexicographic |