early 13c., from Old North French *pinchier "to pinch, squeeze, nip; steal" (Old French pincier, Modern French pincer), of uncertain origin, possibly from Vulgar Latin *punctiare "to pierce," which might be a blend of Latin punctum "point" + *piccare "to pierce." Meaning "to steal" in English is from 1650s. Sense of "to be stingy" is recorded from early 14c. Related: Pinched; pinching.
pinch (n.)
late 15c., "critical juncture" (as in baseball pinch hitter, attested from 1912), from pinch (v.). This figurative sense is attested earlier than the literal sense of "act of pinching" (1590s) or that of "small quantity" (as much as can be pinched between a thumb and finger), which is from 1580s. There is a use of the noun from mid-15c. apparently meaning "fold or pleat of fabric."
双语例句
1. Season with salt, pepper and a pinch of cayenne.
调以盐、胡椒和少许辣椒粉。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Pinch-hitter Francisco Cabrera lashed a single to left field.
替补队员弗朗西斯科·卡布雷拉向左外场猛地击出一个一垒打。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Consumers are spending less and traders are feeling the pinch.
