בְּיָד קְמוּצָה

ביטוי (אנגלית)

Stinginess / miserliness

הגדרה (אנגלית)

A clenched or closed hand. Figuratively: stinginess or giving in small measure. Lack of generosity (originally: a hand taking only a handful or a three-fingered grip. A closed hand. Possibly related to the word ‘kamitzah’ – the finger next to the pinky. See also Leviticus 2:2: “and she brought it to the sons of Aaron the priests, and he took from it a handful from its meal and from its oil”).

(“He struck his companion with a clenched hand. A slap – he struck him with the edge of his hand on his face. Behind the hand, he struck him on the back of his hand, which is more contemptuous” – Commentary on the Mishnah, Rambam, Bava Kamma, chapter 8; and also: “If thus I must go with a clenched hand, then they will suspect me of lending at interest” – Agnon, Ir u’Meluah, 64)