'tightfisted' originates from the combination of 'tight' and 'fist,' where 'tight' meant 'firmly held' and 'fist' referred to a closed hand.

'tightfisted' evolved from the literal sense of holding money tightly in one's fist to the figurative sense of being stingy.

Initially, it meant 'holding something tightly,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'unwilling to spend money.'