threepence

American  

[thrip-uhns, threp-, thruhp-, three-pens] / ˈθrɪp əns, ˈθrɛp-, ˈθrʌp-, ˈθriˌpɛns /

noun

1. (used with a singular or plural verb) a sum of three pennies.

2. a former cupronickel coin of the United Kingdom, a quarter of a shilling, equal to three pennies: use phased out after decimalization in 1971.

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Etymology

Origin of threepence

First recorded in 1580–90; three + pence

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

threepence

I’ve long been fascinated by the Tom Phillips project A Humument, which began in 1966 when he bought an obscure Victorian novel for threepence in a junk shop and began painting on the pages.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 14, 2019

More important, the Sugar Act of 1764 reduced the duty on foreign molasses to an affordable threepence a gallon and tightened collection procedures.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 18, 2018

By contrast, an unskilled tunneller's mate received two shillings and tuppence, while the infantryman in the trenches pocketed a meagre one shilling and threepence.

From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2016

But demand is far above that, despite a price increase from tuppence to threepence.

From Time Magazine Archive

“But remember—I’m not giving them away. I must be paid. The price is threepence for each of you.”

From "Mary Poppins" by P. L. Travers

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