Where does “cheapskate” come from?
cheapskate (English) comes from English skite, from Middle English skyt, from Old Norse skítr, from Proto-Germanic skītaz, from Proto-Indo-European sḱeyd-, from Proto-Indo-European sḱēy-, from Proto-Germanic skaidą, from Proto-Indo-European skÁit- — to cut, part, spearate, divide; to cut, part,...
cheapskate (English): Someone who stingily avoids spending money;...
Definitions
- Someone who stingily avoids spending money;...
Ancestry of “cheapskate”, step by step
cheapskate traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English skite
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | skite | A sudden hit or blow; a glancing blow; A trick; A... |
| 2 | Middle English | skyt | — |
| 3 | Old Norse | skítr | dung, faeces |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | skītaz | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | sḱeyd- | to shade; to cut off; to part with, separate, cut... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | sḱēy- | to shine; to shimmer; shadow; luster, gloss,... |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | skaidą | separation, distinction |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | skÁit- | to cut, part, spearate, divide; to cut, part,... |
via English cheap
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | cheap | Trade; traffic; chaffer; chaffering; A market;... |
| 2 | Middle English | chep | — |
| 3 | Old English | cēap | cattle, purchase, sale, traffic, business,... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | kaupōną | to buy; trade |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | kaupô | innkeeper; merchant |
| 6 | Latin | caupo | Tradesman; Innkeeper, shopkeeper |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | kaup- | — |