Wordsmith.org: the magic of words


A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact  


Home

Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

Archives

FAQ


Dec 15, 2006
This week's theme
Words for body parts used figuratively

This week's words
jugulate
forehanded
white-knuckle
leadfoot
skinflint

This week's comments
AWADmail 240

Next week's theme
Reduplicatives
Discuss
Feedback
RSS/XML
Bookmark and Share Facebook Twitter Digg MySpace Bookmark and Share
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

skinflint

Pronunciation Sound Clip

skinflint (SKIN-flint) noun

Someone who is stingy; a miser.

[Flint stones were used in olden times to start a fire. The term skinflint derives from the idea that a miserly person would go to the extreme and "skin a flint" or use a flint till it's as thin as skin.]

"But yesterday, Martha (Stewart) was revealed to have balked at invading her own wallet for even $10 worth of coffee and snacks. Just how much of a skinflint is Martha?"
Andrea Peyser; Skinflint Diva: Pennywise But Billions-Foolish; New York Post; Feb 20, 2004.

See more usage examples of skinflint in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

X-Bonus

Your neighbor's vision is as true for him as your own vision is true for you. -Miguel de Unamuno, writer and philosopher (1864-1936)

What they say

“A cyberphenomenon”
Read more

Reader' Digest


More articles

Anu Garg on words

“A large vocabulary is like an artist having a big palette of colors. We don’t have to use all the colors in a single painting, but it helps to be able to find just the right shade when we need it.”

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise

© 1994-2025 Wordsmith