The noun has 3 meanings:
Meaning #1:
a state occasioned by scarcity of money and a shortage of credit
Synonym: stringency
Meaning #2:
extreme stinginess
Synonyms: meanness, minginess, niggardliness, niggardness, parsimony, parsimoniousness, tightfistedness, closeness
Meaning #3:
lack of movement or room for movement
Synonym: tautness
Antonym: looseness (meaning #1)
