nipcheese
(ˈnɪptʃiːz)
[See nip v. 13.]
† 1. slang. A ship's purser. Obs.
| 1785 Grose Dict. Vulgar T., Nip cheese, a nick name for the purser of a ship. 1791–3 Spirit Public Jrnls. (1799) I. 21 The wonderful rise of this quondam nip-cheese has made him very proud of his own abilities. 1837 Marryat Perc. Keene xiii, ‘That's our nipcheese.’ ‘Nipcheese!’ ‘Yes; nipcheese means purser of the ship.’ |
2. A mean or miserly person.
| 1825 Brockett N.C. Gloss., Nip-cheese, a contemptuous designation for a parsimonious, covetous person. 1864 Sala in Temple Bar Jan. 183 Small good..has the tasteless agitation of these churlish nipcheeses done them. |
3. attrib. Mean, miserly, niggardly.
| 1819 Hermit in London I. 66 Like a nip-cheese purser of a man of war. 1860 Sala Lady Chesterfield v, This nip⁓cheese, candle-end saving, pebble-peeling..principle. |