halfpenny

American  

[hey-puh-nee, heyp-nee] / ˈheɪ pə ni, ˈheɪp ni /

noun

halfpennies, plural halfpence plural

1. a bronze coin of the United Kingdom, equal to half a penny: use phased out in 1984.

2. the sum of half a penny.

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adjective

1. of the price or value of a halfpenny.

2. of little value; worthless.

   a halfpenny matter.

3. British Informal. (of newspapers) sensational, especially morbidly or offensively so.

halfpenny British  

/ ˈhɑːfˌpɛnɪ, ˈheɪpnɪ /

noun

1. Also called: half.  a small British coin worth half a new penny, withdrawn from circulation in 1985

2. an old British coin worth half an old penny

3. the sum represented by half a penny

4. something of negligible value

5. (modifier) having the value or price of a halfpenny

6. (modifier) of negligible value

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• halfpence
  plural
• halfpennies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of halfpenny

First recorded in 1225–75, halfpenny is from the Middle English word halfpeny, halpeny. See half, penny

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

halfpenny halfpence halfpennies

“Wherever there is a halfpenny sheet of paper, a pen and a few drops of ink, there are the materials for a petition,” wrote one Chartist.

From New York Times ● Feb. 10, 2022

To mark the start of repairs, English Heritage has invited a man to replace a halfpenny he placed under one of the stones in the 1950s when he was a boy.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2021

It is postmarked Belfast, where the Titanic was built, and has a canceled halfpenny stamp.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 12, 2021

Copper halfpenny token produced for John Morse of Watford in 1666 For thirty years between 1644 and 1674 there was no official national supply of small change.

From The Guardian ● Sep. 21, 2010

“Sixpence and four pennies—that’s tenpence, and a halfpenny and a threepenny-bit,” said Jane, counting up quickly.

From "Mary Poppins" by P. L. Travers

Zoo Timeby Howard Jacobson You take the kicks and the halfpence, to borrow a phrase from Conrad.

From The Guardian ● Oct. 5, 2012

Resolving to quit a service the perquisites of which were all kicks and no halfpence, Lazarillo led his master to the Arcade at Escalona, beside which a brook ran rather swiftly.

From Legends & Romances of Spain by Spence, Lewis

The price of fruit is prohibitory; cucumbers, such as you in London would give three halfpence for, are here at Calgary as much as a shilling. 

From Pictures of Canadian Life A Record of Actual Experiences by Ritchie, J. Ewing (James Ewing)

"Four pounds, seven shillings, and a few halfpence," he concluded, counting it up.

From The Story of Charles Strange Vol. 2 (of 3) A Novel by Wood, Mrs. Henry

Formerly, when floods resulted from this obstruction, the townsfolk of Helston acquired the right of clearing a passage through it by presenting leathern purses containing three halfpence to the lord of the manor.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 3 "Helmont, Jean" to "Hernosand" by Various

The most extensive case of coin swallowing was reported by Sedgefield General Hospital, County Durham, England, where a man was relieved of 366 halfpennies, 26 sixpences.

From Time Magazine Archive

In London, a coroner found that the late Sidney Corrall, acquisitive but non compos mentis, had swallowed and kept all to himself 201 pennies, florins, shillings, halfpennies, sixpences, half crowns, and threepenny bits.

From Time Magazine Archive

He walked up to the Bird Woman and held out four halfpennies.

From "Mary Poppins" by P. L. Travers

I did a quick count: two iron halfpennies, nine shims, and a drab.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

"So you've turned up again like three bad halfpennies," remarked the Senior Officer of the base to which the "Hippodrome" was attached, as the three airmen reported themselves.

From Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S. A story of the Great War by Westerman, Percy F. (Percy Francis)