Parsimony, n.
Etymology: [L. parsimonia, parcimonia; cf. parcere to spare, parsus sparing: cf. F. parcimonie.]
Closeness or sparingness in the expenditure of money; -- generally in a bad sense; excessive frugality; niggardliness. Bacon. Awful parsimony presided generally at the table. Thackeray.
Syn. -- Economy; frugality; illiberality; covetousness; closeness; stinginess. See Economy.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for parsimony; he lists it under frugality.
Where he writes about it:
Economy is a wise and careful administration of the means at one's disposal; frugality is a withholding of expenditure, or sparing of supplies or provision, to a noticeable and often to a painful degree; parsimony is excessive and unreasonable saving for the sake of saving. — from frugality
Frugality exalted into a virtue to be practised for its own sake, instead of as a means to an end, becomes the vice of parsimony. — from frugality