skinflint etymology

Etymology:

  • From earlier skin-flint, meaning "a person who holds tightly to his/her money."
  • The term "skin" in this context refers to the skin of a flint stone, which is often very hard and brittle.
  • "Flint" refers to the mineral flint, once used widely to make tools and weapons.

Meaning:

  • A person who is extremely stingy or miserly. Someone who is tightfisted with money and reluctant to spend it.
  • A synonym for "penny-pincher," "cheapskate," or "tightwad."

Origin:

  • The term "skinflint" first appeared in the 16th century.
  • It is believed to have originated in the idea that a skinflint would use a piece of flint to skin animals, instead of buying a knife.
  • This practice would have indicated the person's reluctance to spend money.

skinflint relate terms

  • flint

    Etymology The word flint ultimately derives from the Proto Indo European root plek m

  • skin

    Etymology Proto Indo European sḱi meaning to cut to peel Meaning Skin refers

  • skin

    Etymology Proto Indo European sḱi meaning to cut to peel Meaning Skin refers

  • bisect

    Etymology Bi Latin two Secare Latin to cut Meaning To divide something

  • dissect

    Etymology Dissecare Latin to cut apart Components Dis Latin prefix meaning

  • hacksaw

    Etymology The word hacksaw originated in the 16th century combining the words Hack

  • insect

    Etymology The word insect is derived from the Latin word insectum which means cut i

  • intersect

    Etymology Old French entresechir Latin intersecāre inter between secāre to

  • resect

    Etymology First used in the 16th century Derived from the Latin word resectus which

  • Saxon

    Etymology Saxon is a term derived from the Old English word Seaxe which referred to th

  • scythe

    Etymology The word scythe comes from the Old English word siðe which means cutting

  • secant

    Etymology and Meaning The word secant comes from the Latin verb secare meaning to

  • secateurs

    Etymology The word secateurs is derived from the Latin word seco which means to cut

  • sect

    Etymology The word sect is derived from the Latin word secta meaning a cutting or

  • section

    Etymology is the study of the origin and development of words It involves examining the h

  • sector

    Etymology The word sector originates from the Latin word sector which means a cutt

  • sedge

    Etymology Middle English segge segge from Old English secg from Proto West Germanic

  • segment

    Etymology The word segment comes from the Latin word segmentum meaning a cutting

  • skin

    Etymology Proto Indo European sḱi meaning to cut to peel Meaning Skin refers

  • skinflint

    Etymology From earlier skin flint meaning a person who holds tightly to his her money

  • skinny

    Etymology The word skinny is derived from the Middle English word skine which means

  • transect

    Etymology The word transect comes from the Latin trans meaning across and sect

  • lurch

    Etymology Late 18th century probably related to lurch a nautical term from the 16th c

  • draconian

    Etymology Draconian comes from the Latin word dracō meaning dragon or serpent

  • Turk

    Etymology Turk The word Turk originates from the Old Turkic word Türk or Türkü

  • rose

    Etymology Middle English rose from Anglo Norman rose from Old French rose from Lati

  • lugubrious

    Etymology From Latin lugubris mournful dismal from Proto Indo European s leug

  • premium

    Etymology The word premium comes from the Latin word praemium meaning reward or

  • rock

    Etymology The word rock originates from the Old English word rocc which meant a la

  • abyss

    Etymology The word abyss comes from the Greek word ἄβυσσος abyssos which m

  • humor

    Etymology The word humor derives from the Latin word humor meaning liquid or mois