"deal scant measure to," 1879, probably a back-formation of skimpy, or a variant or alternative form of scamp or scrimp, or influenced by those words. Related: Skimped; skimping.
Entries linking to skimp
skimpy adj.
"spare, scanty," 1842, from skimp (adj.) "scanty" (1775), which perhaps ultimately is from an early 18c. alteration of scrimp or a variant of scamp (v.). According to OED, "not in general use until late 19th c." Skimping, in the same sense, from the adjective, is attested by 1778. Related: Skimpily; skimpiness.
scamp n.
1782, "highway robber," probably from dialectal verb scamp "to roam" (1753, perhaps from 16c.), which is shortened from scamper. By 1808 in a general sense of "fugitive, vagabond, swindler, mean villain;" used in the affectionate sense of "rascal" since 1837.