けち

See also: げち

Japanese
Alternative spelling
吝嗇 (uncommon)

Etymology

Shift from 怪事 (keji, “unfortunate event”). Used in the Edo period to mean "a shabby, lowborn individual" before taking on the current sense.[1]

Noun

けち or ケチ • (kechi) 

  1. miser
  2. miserliness; stinginess

Adjective

けち • (kechi) -na (adnominal けちな (kechi na na), adverbial けちに (kechi ni ni))

  1. stingy, miserly
    けちなおやじ ― kechi na oyaji ― a stingy old man

References
  1. 語源由来辞典 Gogen Yurai Jiten
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