'miserly' originates from English, formed from the noun 'miser' plus the adjectival suffix '-ly'. The noun 'miser' ultimately comes from Latin 'miser', where the root 'miser' meant 'wretched' or 'unhappy'.

'miser' entered English via Old French and Middle English (compare Old French 'miser'/'misere' influences); the adjective 'miserly' was formed in Early Modern English by adding '-ly' to 'miser', developing into the modern English 'miserly'.

Initially related to the Latin sense of 'wretched' or 'pitiable', the word evolved to describe someone who hoards money or is unwilling to spend it; the modern meaning is 'stingy' or 'small in amount'.