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Scrimping

 - 3 dictionary results

scrimp

[skrimp]
–verb (used without object)
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.
–verb (used with object)
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.

Origin:
1710–20; < Scand; cf. Sw skrympa, Norw, Dan skrumpe (orig. *skrimpa, strong v.) to shrivel, c. MHG schrimpfen to contract; see shrimp


1. skimp, stint, save, scrape.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Scrimping
scrimp   (skrĭmp)   
v.   scrimped, scrimp·ing, scrimps

v.   intr.
To economize severely.
v.   tr.
  1. To be excessively sparing with or of.

  2. To cut or make too small or scanty.


[Perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish skrympa, to shrink.]
scrimp'er n., scrimp'i·ness n., scrimp'y adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

scrimp 
"to make too small," 1774, originally an adj., "scant, meager" (1718), possibly from a Scand. source (cf. Swed. skrumpna "to shrink, shrivel up"), or from a continental Gmc. source akin to M.H.G. schrimpfen, Ger. schrumpfen "to shrivel" (cf. shrimp).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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