penny-father

plural penny-fathers

1. obsoleteA miser or penurious person who husbands each penny.

   Good old penny-father was glad of his liquor.

   1629, Pasquil, Jests

   1 more example

   On a time, hee being alone fulle of griefe and care, (griefe for his folies past, and care how to get a poore living for the remainder of his dayes) the Devill came to him and asked him what hee wanted (hee came not in a shape terrible, but like an old penny-father.)

   c. 1555, The Famous Historie of Fryer Bacon

   Synonyms: miser, pauper