niggard
Americannoun
-
niggards
plural
adjective
noun
adjective
Sensitivity
The words niggard and niggardly are often misinterpreted as racial slurs because they sound like what is probably the most offensive word in the English language. Actually, niggard dates back to Middle English. The first element nygg-, nig- was borrowed from a Scandinavian source, and -ard is a pejorative suffix. The adjective and adverb niggardly is a modern English formation from niggard. Historical linguists and others familiar with the etymology of these words know that they are not truly related to the word nigger. However, the source of a term is not as important as how it is perceived and used in contemporary language. So even if the words niggard and niggardly are not racial slurs in their etymologies, meanings, or historical uses, it may be wisest to avoid these terms. The connotation or perception of any word is determined by how it is used, received, and interpreted; niggard and niggardly may be offensive to many speakers because of this speculative, but false, etymology.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of niggard
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English nyggard, nigard “a stingy person,” from earlier nig “a stingy person” (from Old Norse; compare Old Icelandic hnöggr “stingy,” dialectal Swedish njugg, nygg “parsimonious”; akin to Old English hnēaw “stingy”) + -ard
Vocabulary lists containing niggard
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The Aga Khans have been generously rewarded by Britannia—no niggard when she obtains good value for her money.
From Time Magazine Archive
Flowing around you, not brooding and nursing every niggard stone.
From "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner
The aged and the infirm, who can still perform a light task, have just received their daily dole from the royal storehouse at the niggard hand of the pampered steward.
From The Highlands of Ethiopia by William Cornwallis Harris
Nature has dispensed the first necessary of life with a most niggard hand, those pools which have not a constant supply of running water soon become adulterated by various decompositions of organic and inorganic matter.
From The Highlands of Ethiopia by William Cornwallis Harris
Sir Wentworth had long passed through the spendthrift stage, and was very close with respect to money-matters; a harsh and griping landlord, and it is probable enough a niggard parent.
From Lost Sir Massingberd, v. 1/2 A Romance of Real Life by James Payn
Nature—it seems—when she meant us for earth Spent so much of her treasure in the birth As ever after niggards her, and she, Thus stor'd within, beggars us outwardly.
From Poems of Henry Vaughan, Silurist, Volume II by E. K. (Edmund Kerchever) Chambers
My whole hopes are now centred in Paris, for German princes are all niggards.
From The Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — Volume 01 by Ludwig Nohl
The authorities of the London and Suburban Bank were no niggards.
From The Man Upstairs and Other Stories by P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse
“Sailors earned their money like horses and spent it like asses,” says an old writer, and certainly, once ashore, they were no niggards.
From The Portsmouth Road and Its Tributaries To-Day and in Days of Old by Charles G. (Charles George) Harper
Don't be niggards in this; it cheers the Doctor's heart, and it will lighten yours.
From Health Five Lay Sermons to Working-People by John Brown
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