Scrimped is spelled as /skrɪmpt/. The word is pronounced with the initial letter ‘S’ pronounced as /s/ without the aspirated /h/ sound. The phoneme /kr/ followed by the short vowel sound /ɪ/ produces the unique sound /skrɪm/. The word ends with the sound /pt/ pronounced with a stop and release of breath. Scrimped is a past tense form of the verb ‘scrimp’, which means to save, be economical or use sparingly.
Scrimped is a verb that means to restrict or limit oneself or others in order to save money or resources. It is often used to describe a situation where someone is economizing or being frugal in their spending or consumption habits. When a person scrimps, they consciously choose to make do with less than they usually would, in an effort to be thrifty and maximize the use of available resources. This can involve cutting back on luxuries, reducing unnecessary expenses, or finding ways to stretch limited resources to make them last longer.
The term "scrimped" can also be used metaphorically to describe situations where one is constrained or limited in general, not just financially. For example, someone might say they are scrimping on time, meaning they are being very careful to use their time efficiently and avoid wasting it.
In essence, scrimping involves making sacrifices in order to save, often with the goal of meeting specific financial or resource-related objectives. This behavior is commonly associated with budgeting, saving for future expenses, or trying to make ends meet with limited means. Scrimping can be a deliberate and conscious choice made by individuals or households, or it can be a result of economic circumstances that impose constraints on spending and consumption.
The word "scrimped" comes from the Middle English term "skrimpen", which originally meant "to cut or shrink". It is derived from the Old Norse word "skorpna", meaning "to become shriveled or contracted". Over time, the meaning of "scrimped" evolved to refer to saving, limiting, or being frugal with something, often in the context of money or resources.