Definition: A stingy, miserly person.
Example: Norbert was such a penny-pincher, he charged his houseguests a fee to visit the toilet.
alternatively can be used as a verb: ‘penny pinching’
Origin:
Not much is known of penny pincher’s roots, though it appears to have started in America in the mid-nineteenth century. It was probably from the simple imagery of somebody clutching a penny between their thumb and forefinger as they removed it from a coin purse.
In the mid-nineteenth century, the Church of Scotland fractured into several smaller churches. This left many of them without wealthy patrons or landowners, and funding their costs became problematic. A difficult decision had to be made to ensure these churches’ survival. The parishioners would have to pay when they came to service. To enforce this, someone would be stationed at the entrance to collect. No payment. No entry. Visiting Church of England worshippers were scandalised. Church of Englanders apparently have long memories.
The stereotype still sticks to the unfortunate Scots today.
