chinchy

[ chin-chee ]

adjective

, Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S.

, chinch·i·er, chinch·i·est.

1. stingy; miserly; cheap.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chinchy¹

1400–50; late Middle English, derivative of chinche (noun and adj.) < Old French chinche, chiche < Vulgar Latin *ciccus for Latin ciccum a bagatelle; -y ¹

Example Sentences

Fy! lack of coin departeth compaign�e; And hev� purse with Hert� liber�l Quencheth the thirsty heat of Hert�s drie, Where chinchy Hert�4 hath thereof but small.

From Project Gutenberg

Communicator Alan Shepard had kidded Cooper: "You're getting kind of chinchy on using this fuel up there."

From Time Magazine Archive