To understand “exiguity” or “exiguous,” we must understand the adjective “scant.” It describes an amount that is just barely sufficient. It might refer to a lack of supplies, but it’s also used commonly in recipes. A scant cup of flour means the flour just barely reaches the top of the measuring cup, and it’s certainly not overflowing. “Exiguity,” meaning “scantiness,” comes from the Latin “exiguus,” which means “scanty,” and “exigere,” which means “weigh exactly.”