Definitions for: Penny


[n] a coin worth one-hundredth of the value of the basic unit
[n] a fractional monetary unit of Ireland and the United Kingdom; equal to one hundredth of a pound
[adj] priced at 1 cent; "penny candy"
[adj] (used in combination) priced as indicated; "`penny' is a combining form in such expressions as `sixpenny cakes'"



Webster (1913) Definition: Pen"ny, a. [Perh. a corruption of pun, for pound.]
Denoting pound weight for one thousand; -- used in
combination, with respect to nails; as, tenpenny nails, nails
of which one thousand weight ten pounds.


Pen*ny, n.; pl. Penniesor Pence. Pennies denotes the
number of coins; pence the amount of pennies in value. [OE.
peni, AS. penig, pening, pending; akin to D. penning, OHG.
pfenning, pfenting, G. pfennig, Icel. penningr; of uncertain
origin.]
1. An English coin, formerly of copper, now of bronze, the
twelfth part of an English shilling in account value, and
equal to four farthings, or about two cents; -- usually
indicated by the abbreviation d. (the initial of
denarius).

Note: ``The chief Anglo-Saxon coin, and for a long period the
only one, corresponded to the denarius of the Continent
. . . [and was] called penny, denarius, or denier.''
--R. S. Poole. The ancient silver penny was worth about
three pence sterling (see Pennyweight). The old
Scotch penny was only one twelfth the value of the
English coin. In the United States the word penny is
popularly used for cent.

2. Any small sum or coin; a groat; a stiver. --Shak.

3. Money, in general; as, to turn an honest penny.

What penny hath Rome borne, What men provided, what
munition sent? --Shak.

4. (Script.) See Denarius.

Penny cress (Bot.), an annual herb of the Mustard family,
having round, flat pods like silver pennies ({Thlaspi
arvense}). --Dr. Prior.

Penny dog (Zo["o]l.), a kind of shark found on the South
coast of Britain: the tope.

Penny father, a penurious person; a niggard. [Obs.]
--Robinson (More's Utopia).

Penny grass (Bot.), pennyroyal. [R.]

Penny post, a post carrying a letter for a penny; also, a
mail carrier.

Penny wise, wise or prudent only in small matters; saving
small sums while losing larger; -- used chiefly in the
phrase, penny wise and pound foolish.


Pen"ny, a.
Worth or costing one penny.

Synonyms: cent, centime, priced

See Also: British pound, coin, copper, fractional monetary unit, Irish pound, new penny, pound, pound sterling, punt, quid, subunit

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