I. ˈskrimp adjective
Etymology: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish skrympa to shrink — more at shrimp
: scanty , meager
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. : to be niggardly in providing for : put on short allowance
scrimps his family
2. : to make too small, short, or scanty : be sparing or niggardly in or with : limit too closely
scrimp the pattern of a coat
scrimp food
3. : to save slowly and with difficulty by minor economies
here's five bob I've been scrimping from the house money — Ruth Park
intransitive verb
: to be frugal or niggardly in economizing
office girls who scrimp all year to pay for their vacations — Tibor Koeves
in restoring the place they scrimped on plumbing — W.A.White