2007-12-21 18:26:27 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
A skinflint is a person considered so miserly that he would even "skin a flint" to save something of it. A flint is a small piece of flintstone used to strike a spark in the tinderbox. The flints in modern day lighters aren't made of flintstone, but rather of Ferrocerium. A 'skinflint' dislikes spending money and is also sometimes referred to as a 'tightwad', a 'miser', a 'niggard', and a 'penny pincher'.
2007-12-21 18:33:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
A skinflint is a person considered so miserly that he would even "skin a flint" to save something of it. A flint is a small piece of flintstone used to strike a spark in the tinderbox. The flints in modern day lighters aren't made of flintstone, but rather of Ferrocerium. A 'skinflint' dislikes spending money and is also sometimes referred to as a 'tightwad', a 'miser', a 'niggard', and a 'penny pincher
2007-12-22 03:22:38 · answer #2 · answered by fozz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A skin flint is a tool used to scrape the fat and dead tissue from an animal skin. Not sure how this relates exactly to a person who is mean with their money, as in a tight wad.
The link below explains : -
Skinflint - Wikipedia, A skinflint is a person considered so miserly that he would even "skin a flint" to save something of it. A flint is a small piece of flintstone used to ...
http://WWW.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skinflint
2007-12-22 02:45:36 · answer #3 · answered by Dragoner 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Probably because they are scrimpers and scrapers,like the flint that cleans the animal skins before cured a Skinflint
2007-12-22 02:31:09 · answer #4 · answered by SIMON H 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A skinflint was one who would break a piece of flint down to its thinnest layer or "skin" in order to save a penny (or less!) in buying a new flint. A piece of this stone could be broken into smaller bits which could all be used to start a fire.This term dates from the late 17th century.
2007-12-22 02:40:06 · answer #5 · answered by Kileygirl 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Someone who sold skin for money? Maybe he couldn't even afford a knife and peeled it off with a piece or sharp flint?
2007-12-22 02:30:34 · answer #6 · answered by Joe Bloggs 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
never heard of that. i have heard of skinflick
2007-12-22 02:29:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋