Definition: frugal

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

frugal
     adj : avoiding waste; "an economical meal"; "an economical
           shopper"; "a frugal farmer"; "a frugal lunch"; "a
           sparing father and a spending son"; "sparing in their
           use of heat and light"; "stinting in bestowing gifts";
           "thrifty because they remember the great Depression";
           (`scotch' is used only informally) [syn: economical,
           scotch, sparing, stinting]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Frugal \Fru"gal\, a. [L. frugalis, fr. frugi, lit., for fruit;
   hence, fit for food, useful, proper, temperate, the dative of
   frux, frugis, fruit, akin to E. fruit: cf. F. frugal. See
   Fruit, n.]
   1. Economical in the use or appropriation of resources; not
      wasteful or lavish; wise in the expenditure or application
      of force, materials, time, etc.; characterized by
      frugality; sparing; economical; saving; as, a frugal
      housekeeper; frugal of time.

            I oft admire How Nature, wise and frugal, could
            commit Such disproportions.           --Milton.

   2. Obtained by, or appropriate to, economy; as, a frugal
      fortune. ``Frugal fare.'' --Dryden.