miserly, mean, stingy; punctilious, concerned with worthless small things or details
“Otra vez se puso en evidencia el trato injusto que se dedica a los toreros acartelados con las corridas duras: además de bailar con la más recelosa -que no fea-, no disfrutan de la misma generosidad que se le reserva a las figuras, ni por parte del público, algo cicatero, ni de la presidencia.” — Once again the unjust treatment of carteled bullfighters in difficult bullfights became evident: besides having to deal with the most suspicious, if not ugly, activity, they do not receive the same generosity [more prominent] figures receive, neither from the somewhat miserly audience, nor from the show presidency.
Synonyms: ruin, roñoso, avaro, agarrado, puntilloso
Inherited from Old Spanish cegatero (“reseller”), from Arabic سَقَّاط (saqqāṭ, “seller of trinkets”) + -ero. Related to Arabic سَقَط (saqaṭ, “worthless”). Coromines and Pascual explain the development ceg- > cic- as influence from cica (“money bag”).