Comparative form meaning more cheap, or more inclined to cheat or bargain poorly.
From 'cheap' (from Middle Dutch 'kope', meaning trade or bargain) + comparative '-er'. The meaning shifted from 'inexpensive' to 'shoddy' to 'inclined to cheap out' over centuries.
The word 'cheap' came from the old verb 'to cheapen,' which meant to haggle—so cheapskates are literally people who haggle everything down to the lowest price!
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