niggardly — circa 1366, nygart, of uncertain origin. The suffix suggests Fr. origin (cf. dastard), but the root word is probably related to O.N. hnøggr "stingy," from P.Gmc. *khnauwjaz (cf. Swed. njugg "close, careful," Ger. genau "precise, exact"), and to O.E. hneaw "stingy."

Absolutely nothing to do with race.

And as to referring to kids as "monkeys," I think that says more about the person who takes offense than it does about the person who uses the word in this context.

Don Firth