stiver
Americannoun
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Also stuiver a former nickel coin of the Netherlands, equal to five Dutch cents.
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the smallest possible amount.
not worth a stiver; not a stiver of work.
noun
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a former Dutch coin worth one twentieth of a guilder
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a small amount, esp of money
Etymology
Origin of stiver
First recorded in 1495–1505, stiver is from the Dutch word stuiver
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.
Behind her was a background of the stiver sea.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
And here’s the offer that I wrote In ’33 to Lucy Diver; And here John Wylie’s begging note— He never paid me back a stiver.
From London Lyrics by George Cruikshank
Walter neglected to do this, and spent one stiver of the money on snuff for an old soldier.
From Walter Pieterse A Story of Holland by Multatuli
Look down thish column," resumed Levi, "and thish, and thish, and thish—there's nine o' them—and not one stiver on th' other side.
From The Tenants of Malory Volume 3 of 3 by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Sybil recalled her mother's old saying, "Not worth a stiver," and laughed, while Jane went on.
From A Pasteboard Crown A Story of the New York Stage by Clara Morris
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.
