'tight-fingered' originates from English, specifically formed from the words 'tight' and 'finger', where 'tight' meant 'held firmly' and 'finger' was used figuratively for 'grasping'.

'tight-fingered' developed by analogy with the older English phrase 'tight-fisted' (used to describe someone who holds their fist tightly); by extension, 'tight-fingered' came to be used to describe someone who holds on tightly to money and is reluctant to spend it.

Initially it could describe the literal action of holding something tightly with the fingers; over time it evolved into its current figurative meaning of 'reluctant to spend money, stingy.'