skimpy

English

Etymology

From skimp +‎ -y.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈskɪmpi/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Audio (AU):

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• Rhymes: -ɪmpi

Adjective

skimpy (comparative skimpier, superlative skimpiest)

1. Small or inadequate; not generous, or of a garment, very small, light, or revealing.

   Have you ever seen such a skimpy bikini?

   They served a pretty skimpy portion of ice cream as the free birthday dessert.

Translations

small or inadequate; not generous, or of a garment, very small, light, or revealing

• Italian: striminzito (it), scinto (it) (of clothing)
• Polish: skąpy m; (of a garment) kusy m
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Russian: открове́нный (ru) (otkrovénnyj) (of clothing), ску́дный (ru) (skúdnyj)
• Swedish: torftig (sv), snål (sv)

Noun

skimpy (plural skimpies)

1. (Australia, Western Australia) A barmaid who wears little clothing. [From 1988.]
   • 2000, Australian Journal of Mining, page 2,

     It's a curious mix: weatherworn miners, fresh faced bankers, and a couple of g-stringed skimpies.

   • 2007, Terry Carter, Lara Dunston, Perth & Western Australia, Lonely Planet, page 159,

     For an anthropological experience, the front bar at the Exchange Hotel provides a window into some locals′ lives at all hours of the day, with skimpies, TV sports and mine workers chain-drinking.

   • 2010, Kathy Marks, Tears of the Sun, Robert Drewe (editor), The Best Australian Essays 2010, page 239,

     ‘ […] There are thirty-two hotels in Kalgoorlie, and only seven would have skimpies [scantily clad barmaids].’

Derived terms

• skimpy work