penny-father

English

Noun

penny-father (plural penny-fathers)

1. (obsolete) A miser or penurious person who husbands each penny.
   • c. 1555, The Famous Historie of Fryer Bacon:

     On a time, hee being alone fulle of griefe and care, (griefe for his folies past, and care how to get a poore living for the remainder of his dayes) the Devill came to him and asked him what hee wanted (hee came not in a shape terrible, but like an old penny-father.)

   • 1629, Pasquil, Jests:

     Good old penny-father was glad of his liquor.

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:miser or Thesaurus:pauper.