Green’s Dictionary of Slang

pinch-gut n.

a miser.

1659		Greene & Lodge Lady Alimony II ii: That one [is] Sir Gregory Shapeless, a Mundungo Monopolist, a paltry-penurious-pecking pinchgut.
1690		J. Crowne Eng. Friar II i: ‘We are my Lady Pinch-gut’s men Sir.’ [...] ‘Her men? no, her mice. We live on crumbs.’.
c.1698		B.E. Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: Pinch-gut-hall a noted House at Milend, so Nick-nam’d by the Tarrs, who were half Starved in a East-India Voiage, by their then Commander, who Built (at his return) that famous Fabrick, and (as they say) with what he Pinch’d out of their Bellies.
1725		New Canting Dict. [as cit. c.1698].
1844		Tom Cladpole’s Jurney to Lunnun 9: Ol’ Pinchgut den must find us work, Fer Overseer is he.
1850		E.V. Kenealy Goethe: a New Pantomime 195: Pinchgut, swindler, blackleg, blockhead!
1891		Dead Bird (Sydney) 10 Jan. 4/3: [He] will in future be known as Baron Bingie, Governor of Pinchgut.