pinchpenceadj.n.
/ˈpɪn(t)ʃˌpɛns/, U.S. /ˈpɪn(t)ʃpɛns/ rare.† B. n.
A. adj.
= pinchpenny adj. Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > retaining > niggardliness or meanness > [adjective] > miserly
gnedy?c1225
miserable1484
misera1500
muckeringa1525
pinchpence1540
snudging1553
pinchpenny1582
miserly1593
mising1595
scraping1597
chuff-penny1603
wretched1652
nabalitic1653
skinflint1737
nippit1808
Scrooge-like1976
1540 King Henry VIII in R. R. Sharpe London & Kingdom (1894) I. xiv. 406 [Henry upbraided the City for being] pynche pence [or stingy in their offer.]
1905 Times 4 July 9/5 Henry VIII..probably complained..that the ‘bargainers’ were somewhat ‘pinchpence’ in their transactions.
1961 V. Pearl London & Outbreak of Puritan Rev. i. 24 Henry VIII dismissed the offers and denounced the City as ‘pinchpence’.
= pinchpenny n. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > retaining > niggardliness or meanness > [noun] > niggard or mean person
nithinga1225
chinch?a1300
nigc1300
chincher1333
shut-purse1340
niggardc1384
haynec1386
nigona1400
pinchera1425
pinchpenny?c1425
pynepenya1450
pelt1511
chincherda1529
churl1535
pinchbeck1538
carl?1542
penny-father1549
nipfarthing1566
nipper?1573
holdfast1576
pinchpence1577
pinch fistc1580
pinchfart1592
shit-sticks1598
clunchfist1606
puckfist1606
sharp-nose1611
spare-good1611
crib1622
hog grubber?1626
dry-fist1633
clusterfist1652
niggardling1654
frummer1659
scrat1699
sting-hum1699
nipcheese1785
pincha1825
screw1825
wire-drawer1828
close-fist1861
penny-pincher1875
nip-skin1876
parer1887
pinch-plum1892
cheapskate1899
meanie1902
tightwad1906
stinge1914
penny-peeler1925
mean1938
stiff1967
1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. II. iii. ii. sig. Cc.iiijv/1 Let our wealthie pinchpence..leaue their..insatiable couetousnesse.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1540