Cheap, a. [Abbrev. fr. “good cheap”: a good purchase or bargain; cf. F. bon marché, à bon marché. See Cheap, n., Cheapen.] 1. Having a low price in market; of small cost or price, as compared with the usual price or the real value.
Where there are a great sellers to a few buyers, there the thing to be sold will be cheap.
Locke.
2. Of comparatively small value; common; mean.
You grow cheap in every subject's eye.
Dryden.
Dog cheap, very cheap, — a phrase formed probably by the catachrestical transposition of good cheap.