Definition of "thrift"

thrift

/θɹɪft/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural thrifts
1. (uncountable) The characteristic of using a minimum of something (especially money).
  Quotations
  The rest, […] willing to fall to thrift , as I have seene many souldiers after the service to prove very good husbands
  1596 (date written; published 1633), Edmund Spenser, A Vewe of the Present State of Irelande […], Dublin: […] Societie of Stationers, […]; republished as A View of the State of Ireland […] (Ancient Irish Histories), Dublin: […] Society of Stationers, […] Hibernia Press, […] [b]y John Morrison, 1809,
  […] it would appear that before taking this precaution Mr. Bree must have had the thrift to remove a modest competency of the gold […]
  1892, Ambrose Bierce, Tales of Soldiers and Civilians: Holy Terror
2. (countable, US) A savings bank.
3. (countable) Any of various plants of the genus Armeria, particularly Armeria maritima.
4. (obsolete) Success and advance in the acquisition of property; increase of worldly goods; gain; prosperity; profit.
  Quotations
  Bassanio: […] And many Jasons come in quest of her.O my Antonio, had I but the meansTo hold a rival place with one of them,I have a mind presages me such thrift,That I should questionless be fortunate!
  c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene i]
  Hamlet: No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp,And crook the pregnant hinges of the kneeWhere thrift may follow fawning.
  c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act III, scene ii]
5. (obsolete) Vigorous growth, as of a plant.
verb
third-person singular simple present thrifts, present participle thrifting, simple past and past participle thrifted
1. (transitive) To obtain from a thrift shop.
  Quotations
  She probably thrifted the T-shirt and shorts. Bought the hiking boots yesterday at Copeland's. She's not much of a hiker, Xerxes thinks.
  2007, James Bernard Frost, World Leader Pretend, page 152

Definition of "thrift"

thrift

noun

Quotations

Quotations

verb

Quotations