halfpenny
nounUK /ˈheɪp(ə)ni/ · US /ˈheɪp(ə)ni/
Etymology
From Middle English halpeni, halfpeni (“English coin worth half a penny; coin used in biblical times; small foreign coin”), and then either: * from half (“half”) (from Old English healf; ultimate etymology unknown, possible from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- (“to incline”) or *(s)kelH- (“to cut; to separate, split”)) + peni, penni (“English coin; coin used in biblical times; foreign coin; (especially in the plural) cash, money; pennyweight”) (from Old English penning, from Proto-Germanic *panningaz (“coin, penny”); further etymology uncertain); or * from Late Old English halpene, halpenige (which can also be construed as early Middle English), from healf + penning (see above). By surface analysis, half + penny.
7 senses
- 1A discontinued English (later British) coin worth half…
- 2A similar coin formerly used in Ireland and Scotland.
- 3An amount of money that the English (later British) coin…
- 4An amount of money that the Irish or Scottish coin was worth.
- 5A postage stamp worth half of one penny.
- 6A usually semicircular earmark made in the ear of a…
- 7A small piece; a fragment.
› Senses chiefly with the plural form halfpennies.
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Numismatics UK, Also, Historical A discontinued English (later British) coin worth half of one penny (old or new).
- There vvere none principal, they vvere all like one another, as halfe pence are, euerie one fault ſeeming monſtrous, til his fellovv-fault came to match it.c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 197, column 2:
- [T]here are Thouſands vvho vvould not have contributed a ſingle Halfpenny, as indeed he did not in Effect, for he made no Tender of any thing; and therefore as the others thought proer to make no Demand, he kept his Money in his Pocket.1749, Henry Fielding, “Containing a Scene of Distress, which will Appear Very Extraordinary to Most of Our Readers”, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume V, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book XIII, page 73:
2 more examples
- Whatever means he used in making his way to London, it is certain he made his entrance there with but a few halfpence in his pocket.1840, Oliver Goldsmith, “Biography of Oliver Goldsmith”, in Washington Irving, The Life of Oliver Goldsmith, with Selections from His Writings. […], volume I, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 53:
- Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat, / Please to put a penny in the old man's hat, / If you haven't got a penny, a halfpenny will do, / If you haven't got a halfpenny—God bless you!a. 1886 (date written), Christmas is Coming; quoted in Georgina F[rederica] Jackson, compiler, “Rhymes and Sayings. [Nursery Rhymes and Children’s Jingles.]”, in Charlotte Sophia Burne, editor, Shropshire Folk-lore: A Sheaf of Gleanings. […], part III, London: Trübner & Co., […], 1886, →OCLC, page 571:
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Numismatics Ireland, Scotland, Also, Broadly, Historical A similar coin formerly used in Ireland and Scotland.
› Senses chiefly with the plural form halfpence.
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Numismatics UK, Also, Historical An amount of money that the English (later British) coin was worth.
- There ſhall be in England, ſeuen halfe peny Loaues ſold for a peny: the three hoop'd pot, ſhall haue ten hoopes, and I vvill make it Fellony to drink ſmall Beere.1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii], page 138, column 2:
- My earlieſt vviſh vvas to eſcape unheeded through life; but I have been ſet up for half-pence, to fret and ſcamper at the end of my chain.1760, Oliver Goldsmith, “The Editor’s Preface”, in The Citizen of the World; or Letters from a Chinese Philosopher, […], volume II, London: […] [F]or the author; and sold by J. Newbery and W. Bristow, […]; J. Leake and W. Frederick, […]; B. Collins, […]; and A. M. Smart and Co. […], published 1762, →OCLC, page v:
1 more example
- [I]t was bruited abroad that he was admitted into Dr. Swishtail's academy upon what are called 'mutual principles'—that is to say, the expenses of his board and schooling were defrayed by his father, in goods not money; […] The jokes were frightful, and merciless against him. […] Another would set a sum—"If a pound of mutton-candles cost sevenpence-halfpenny, how much must Dobbin cost?" and a roar would follow from all the circle of young knaves, usher and all, who rightly considered that the selling of goods by retail is a shameful and infamous practice, meriting the contempt and scorn of all real gentlemen.1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, “Dobbin of Ours”, in Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC, page 33:
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Numismatics Ireland, Scotland, Also, Broadly, Historical An amount of money that the Irish or Scottish coin was worth.
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Philately Broadly, Historical A postage stamp worth half of one penny.
Agriculture, Business, Lifestyle Australia, US, Archaic, Broadly A usually semicircular earmark made in the ear of a livestock animal.
Broadly, Figuratively, Obsolete A small piece; a fragment.
- O ſhe tore the letter into a thouſand halfpence, raild at her ſelf, that ſhe ſhould be ſo immodeſt to vvrite, to one that ſhe knevv vvould flout her, […]1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, Much Adoe about Nothing. […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii], signature D2, recto:
- Derived terms
- bord halfpenny, halfpenny farthing, halfpenny of gold, halfpenny under the hat, halfpennyworth, have one's hand on another halfpenny, have one's heart on one's halfpenny, not a halfpenny the worse, shove halfpenny, three halfpence, twopenny-halfpenny