or -back, -commons, -fist, -guts, -penny, -pincher, subs. phr. (old).—A miser; a niggard in food, dress, or money: see SKINFLINT.
1412. OCCLEVE, De Regimine Principum [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 210]. He [Occleve] uses many phrases seldom repeated before Barclay’s time, a hundred years later, such as … shepes skyn (parchment) … PYNCHEPENY (niggard).
1440. Promptorium Parvulorum, s.v. Cupidinarius … PYKEPENY … PINCHER.
1579. J. LYLY, Euphues, ‘The Anatomy of Wit,’ p. 109. They accompt one … a PYNCH PENNY if he be not prodygall.
1593. C. HOLLYBAND, Dictionarie, s.v. Chiche … PINCHPENNY.
1653. URQUHART, Rabelais, I. xlvii. PINCHPENNY said to him … we are here very ill provided of victuals.
1690. CROWNE, The English Friar, ii. 1. ‘We are my Lady PINCH-GUT’S men Sir.’… ‘Her men? no, her mice. We live on crumbs.’
1821. SCOTT, The Pirate, VI. If this house be strewed in ruins before morning where would be the world’s want in the … niggardly PINCHCOMMONS by which it is inhabited.
1883. W. C. RUSSELL, Sailors’ Language, s.v. PINCHGUT. A mean purser.
