skimpy

From skimp +‎ -y.

• IPA^(key): /ˈskɪmpi/

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• Rhymes: -ɪmpi

skimpy (comparative skimpier, superlative skimpiest)

1. Small or inadequate; not generous; diminutive.

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

   • 1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 26:

     [T]he driver was delayed there by a skimpy little woman with a thin piping voice practised in the art of defeating escape from it by a ceaseless stream of gabble.

   • 1986 April 19, Michael Bronski, “Two Views on Desert Hearts: Sexy? or simply Slow?”, in Gay Community News, page 9:

     Desert Hearts is one of the high spots in the skimpy history of gay movies — and probably the high spot in the even more barren history of lesbian films.

   • 1992, Toni Morrison, Jazz, Vintage (2016), page 72:

     Food might be a tad skimpy in the portions.

2. Of a garment, very small, light, or revealing.

   Have you ever seen such a skimpy bikini?

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”, in 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].’

• skimpy work