scrimp

scrimp
/skrimp/, v.i.
1. to be sparing or frugal; economize (often fol. by on): They scrimped and saved for everything they have. He spends most of his money on clothes, and scrimps on food.
v.t.
2. to be sparing or restrictive of or in; limit severely: to scrimp food.
3. to keep on short allowance; provide sparingly for: to scrimp their elderly parents.
[1710-20; < Scand; cf. Sw skrympa, Norw, Dan skrumpe (orig. *skrimpa, strong v.) to shrivel, c. MHG schrimpfen to contract; see SHRIMP]
Syn. 1. skimp, stint, save, scrape.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • scrimp´i|ly — scrimp|y «SKRIHM pee», adjective, scrimp|i|er, scrimp|i|est. too small; too little; scanty; meager. –scrimp´i|ly, adverb. –scri …   Useful english dictionary

  • scrimp|y — «SKRIHM pee», adjective, scrimp|i|er, scrimp|i|est. too small; too little; scanty; meager. –scrimp´i|ly, adverb. –scri …   Useful english dictionary

  • Scrimp — Scrimp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Scrimped} (?; 215); p. pr. & vb. n. {Scrimping}.] [Cf. Dan. skrumpe, G. schrumpfen, D. krimpen. Cf. {Shrimp}, {Shrink}.] To make too small or short; to limit or straiten; to put on short allowance; to scant; to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scrimp — Scrimp, a. Short; scanty; curtailed. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scrimp — Scrimp, n. A pinching miser; a niggard. [U.S.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • scrimp — scrimp·tion; scrimp; …   English syllables

  • scrimp — [skrımp] v [Date: 1700 1800; Origin: Probably from a [i]Scandinavian language] to try to save as much money as you can, even though you have very little ▪ They scrimped and saved for years to buy their own home …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • scrimp — [ skrımp ] verb intransitive to spend money only on what is necessary and save as much as you can: They scrimped and saved for years to buy a house …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • scrimp — to make too small, 1774, originally an adj., scant, meager (1718), possibly from a Scandinavian source (Cf. Swed. skrumpna to shrink, shrivel up ), or from a continental Germanic source akin to M.H.G. schrimpfen, Ger. schrumpfen to shrivel (Cf.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • scrimp — [v] economize be cheap, be economical, be frugal, be prudent, be sparing, conserve, curtail, cut back, cut corners*, make ends meet*, pinch pennies*, run a tight ship*, save, skimp, stretch a dollar*, tighten one’s belt*; concept 330 …   New thesaurus

  • scrimp — ► VERB ▪ be thrifty or parsimonious; economize. ORIGIN Scots, «meagre» …   English terms dictionary

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