Thrifty

a. [f. THRIFT sb.¹ + -Y.]

  (In many early quotations, it is not possible to fix the meaning of this adj.; two or three senses equally well suiting the context.)

  1.  Characterized by success or prosperity (see THRIFT sb.¹ 1); thriving, prosperous, well-to-do, successful, flourishing; fortunate.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 5454. A thousaund þro men þrifte in armys.

c. 1440.  Generydes, 1134. Now A dayis I lese all that I wanne, Where here before I was a threfty man.

1545.  Elyot, s.v. Res, Rem augere, to waxe thryfty.

1634.  Ford, Perkin Warbeck, V. iii. May he prove more thrifty In this world’s just applause, not more desertful.

1697.  Dampier, Voy., I. xvii. 487. The Ships crew were not so thrifty in bargaining … as single persons.

1860.  Holland, Miss Gilbert, xxi. 371. The family generally has been getting thrifty in the world.

1865.  E. Burritt, Walk Land’s End, x. 339. This is a thrifty, modern-looking town.

1876.  Green, Stray Stud., 27. Both had become zealous florists, and thrifty, respectable men.

1883.  J. W. Sherer, At Home & in India, 24. No one was in thrifty and independent comfort.

  † 2.  a. Of a person: Worthy, worshipful, estimable, respectable, well-living. Cf. THRIVEN 2, THRIVING ppl. a. 1. Obs.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, I. 1081. The gentileste and ek þe most fre The þriftieste and oon þe beste knyght That yn his tyme was.

c. 1456.  Pecock, Bk. Faith (1909), 202. Ech thrifti sad clerk in logik.

1463.  Bury Wills (Camden), 26. Sum thrifty man of seynt Marie paryssh to be at the selyng.

1467.  in Eng. Gilds (1870), 377. ij thrifty comyners, trewe, sufficiant, and feithfulle men.

1556.  Olde, Antichrist, 196. That we may be founde ready, like thriftye servauntes, at the Lordes commyng.

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., IV. (S.T.S.), I. 235. A thryftie man, and proffitable ennimie to gluttonie and al vice.

  † b.  Of an action or concrete thing: Respectable, decent, becoming, proper, as it should be. Obs.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Man of Law’s Prol., 46. I kan right now no thrifty tale seyn. Ibid. (c. 1386), Wife’s Prol., 238. I sitte at hoom, I haue no thrifty clooth.

c. 1430.  Two Cookery-bks., 31. Draw vppe a þrifti Mylke of Almaundys y-blaunchyd. Ibid., 34. Make a gode þryfty Syryppe.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr. (Rolls), 160. The yuel … is pareable and kutteable awey bi good and thrifti bisynes therto sett.

  3.  Thriving physically; growing with vigor; in good or healthy condition; flourishing.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 492/2. Thryfty, vigens.

c. 1440.  Generydes, 280. This lady … Brought furth a sonne whiche was a threfte child.

1667.  Waterhouse, Fire Lond., 17. Thrifty Oaks, though fleeced of under boughs, yet if not headed, may thrive.

1707.  Mortimer, Husb. (1721), II. 83. In many Forests and Woods, where you have one thrifty Tree, you have twenty unthrifty Ones.

1862.  B. Taylor, Home & Abroad, Ser. II. 251. A small but thrifty specimen of the Sequoia, or California tree.

1886.  C. Scott, Sheep-Farming, 143. A lot of lambs which … have a fresher and thriftier appearance.

1890.  Mary E. Wilkins, Humble Rom., Bar Lighth. (1891), 279. The bush really looked wonderfully thrifty, considering its many drawbacks to growth.

  4.  Characterized by thrift or frugality; economical, careful of expenditure, sparing, saving; provident.

1526.  Knaresborough Wills (Surtees), I. 20. I wyll, if none of my sonnes be thryftie nor woll thryve,… the land to thuse of our ladie aulter.

1647.  Boyle, in Life, Wks. 1772, I. p. xix. Thrifty he was extremely, and very skilful in the slights of thrift. Ibid. (1666), Orig. Formes & Qual., II. vii. Tis no very thrifty way of Transmutation. Ibid. (1688), Final Causes Nat. Things, iv. 205. Sometimes God’s wisdom seems to be as it were thrifty and solicitous not to bestow on an animal … more than is necessary for the use for which ’tis designed.

1726.  Swift, Gulliver, II. viii. I told my wife she had been too thrifty, for I found she had starved herself and her daughter.

1746.  Francis, trans. Hor., Sat., II. vi. 167. Thrifty he was, and full of cares To make the most of his affairs.

a. 1768.  Secker, Serm. (1770), III. v. 104. They who are sparing in their younger Days seldom fail to be much more thrifty in their Decline.

c. 1827.  Scott, Verses, in Lockhart, lxxiv. I’ve heard your knowing people say, Disown the debt you cannot pay, You’ll find it far the thriftiest way.

1859.  Smiles, Self-Help, ii. (1860), 35. He was honest,… thrifty and hard-working: and his trade prospered.

1872.  Yeats, Growth Comm., 3. Wealth would accumulate in the hands of the thrifty.

  † b.  Well-husbanded. Obs. rare.

1600.  Shaks., A. Y. L., II. iii. 39. I haue fiue hundred Crownes, The thriftie hire I saued vnder your Father.

  † b.  transf. (?) Of scanty or meager dimensions.

1599.  B. Jonson, Cynthia’s Rev., III. ii. Nor can my weak imperfect memory Now render half the forms unto my tongue, That were convoked within this thrifty room.