What is sparing; frugal; parsimonious; stingy. [Obs.] "Too scarce ne too sparing." Chaucer. To make one's self scarce, to decamp; to depart. [Slang] See Rare called?

scarce — Sparing; frugal; parsimonious; stingy. [Obs.] "Too scarce ne too sparing." Chaucer. To make one's self scarce, to decamp; to depart. [Slang] See Rare. (Webster's 1913.)