farthing
Americannoun
-
a former bronze coin of Great Britain, equal to one-fourth of a British penny: withdrawn in 1961.
-
something of very small value.
I don't care a farthing for your opinion.
noun
-
a former British bronze coin, worth a quarter of an old penny, that ceased to be legal tender in 1961
-
something of negligible value; jot
Other Word Forms
- half-farthing noun
Etymology
Origin of farthing
First recorded before 950; Middle English ferthing, Old English fēorthing; fourth, -ing 3
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
About 100 people have pedalled for a bone-jarring three hours in a charity penny farthing race.
From BBC • Sep. 11, 2023
Until 1885, the penny farthing bicycle amplified the rider’s pedal power by means of its oversize front wheel, and cyclists tumbled from a scary height when ambushed by a pothole.
From Washington Post • Jul. 5, 2022
You all are free to put your votes, hearts and contributions wherever you like and we care neither a farthing nor a fig.
From Fox News • Aug. 19, 2019
For his wedding last year, the 26-year-old Slovakian wore a gold trimmed tunic, arrived in a Trabant car and at one point rode a miniature penny farthing across a tightrope.
From The Guardian • Mar. 14, 2016
"Right. But the worst of it is, they don't give Mr. Shakespeare a farthing for it. And it is his work, after all."
From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
