halfpenny

Etymology

From the Middle English halpeni, either from the late-Old English halpenige or from half + peni; equivalent to half + penny and continually reinforced by that surface analysis.

noun

  1. (plural: halfpennies) (historical) A discontinued British coin worth half of one penny (old or new).
    If you haven't got a penny, / A ha'penny will do, / If you haven't got a ha'penny, / Then God bless you. Christmas is coming (traditional carol)
  2. (plural: halfpence) A quantity of money worth half a penny.
    If a pound of mutton-candles cost sevenpence-halfpenny, how much must Dobbin cost? 1848, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair

adj

  1. Costing or worth one halfpenny.

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