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  a small British coin worth half a new penny, withdrawn from circulation in 1985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

It is a far cry from the old hospital, opened in 1904 at a cost of £3,200, and its upkeep paid for by iron and coal workers donating a halfpenny a week from their wages.

From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2023

“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

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

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 12, 2021

The Libraries Act of 1850 empowered larger local authorities to add a halfpenny to the rate to run a free public library – but not to buy books, or raise the capital to build it.

From The Guardian ● Jan. 31, 2011

Davos stopped beneath the colonnade and traded a halfpenny for an apple.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

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

From The Guardian ● Oct. 5, 2012

Every pedlar and driver of public coaches lent himself to the profitable business of carrying letters for a few halfpence a letter.

From The History of the Post Office in British North America by Smith, William, Sir

To what end did the King give his patent for coining halfpence for Ireland?

From Ireland in the Days of Dean Swift Irish Tracts, 1720 to 1734 by Daly, J. Bowles (John Bowles)

Some observations on a paper, called, The report of the committee of the most honourable the Privy-council in England, relating to Wood’s halfpence.

From Ireland in the Days of Dean Swift Irish Tracts, 1720 to 1734 by Daly, J. Bowles (John Bowles)

I desire that all families may keep this paper carefully by them, to refresh their memories whenever they shall have farther notice of Mr. Wood’s halfpence, or any other the like imposture.

From Ireland in the Days of Dean Swift Irish Tracts, 1720 to 1734 by Daly, J. Bowles (John Bowles)

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

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

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

These poor fellows gave him the wildest reception, and the whole assemblage laughed most heartily when, on the invitation of one of them, he flicked halfpennies in a "two up" game.

From Down Under With the Prince by Duncan, Sara Jeannette