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.
© Webster 1913.