Cheap skate

Reviewing 'cheapskate', consider that the earliest use, and still current (this is the way I learned it) was 'cheapsgate', 'gate' from the gate into the medieval city where the 'cheaps' or merchants were. In some google searches I find people calling each other, or themselves, cheapsgates, and only a few months ago there was a computer application "Cheapsgate". I don't see it now.

I'm puzzled that the early explanation has nearly disappeared, and so rapidly.

Not wishing to be rude but that 'cheapsgate' derivation is ye loade of olde rubbysh. Why do I think that?

- The term isn't known in print until 1896 - hardly likely if it originated in mediaeval times.
- All the early citations are American. The US has many claims to fame but a history of merchants plying their wares around ancient gated cities isn't one of them.
- All the early citations show the term as 'cheap skate'. The only way that could migrate to 'cheaps gate' is by mishearing. Where is the connection between gate and skate?
- 'Skate' was an existing term for a mean person and for a decrepit horse. The first known citation refers directly to horses.
- Finding an example of a spelling in Google isn't surprising. There are ten times as many examples of 'cheapkate' as for 'cheapsgate' and those are clearly just mistakes.