tuppence

[ tuhp-uh ns ]

/ ˈtʌp əns /

noun British.

twopence.

Nearby words

Origin of tuppence

1505–15; earlier tuppens, reduction of twopence

Definition for tuppence (2 of 2)

twopence

or tup·pence

[ tuhp-uh ns ]

/ ˈtʌp əns /

noun, plural two·pence, two·pen·ces for 2–4.

(used with a singular or plural verb) British. a sum of two pennies.

a bronze coin of the United Kingdom equal to two pennies: issued after decimalization in 1971.

a former copper coin of Great Britain, equal to two pennies, issued under George III.

a former silver coin of England, equal to two pennies: issued only as maundy money after 1662.

a trifle.

Origin of twopence

1400–50; late Middle English two pens; see two, pence

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for tuppence

Tuppence announced him, and Mrs. Vandemeyer rose from her seat on a low divan with a quick murmur of pleasure.
The Secret Adversary|Agatha Christie
As he did not seem inclined to open the conversation, Tuppence was forced to begin.
The Secret Adversary|Agatha Christie
Please, sir,” said Tottie to the penny banker, “I wants to pay in tuppence.
Post Haste|R.M. Ballantyne
"We advertised to receive information, not to give it," said Tuppence severely.
The Secret Adversary|Agatha Christie

The mood was so alien to him that Tuppence turned and stared at him in surprise.
The Secret Adversary|Agatha Christie

British Dictionary definitions for tuppence (1 of 2)

tuppence

/ (ˈtʌpəns) /

noun

British a variant spelling of twopence

British Dictionary definitions for tuppence (2 of 2)

twopence

tuppence

/ (ˈtʌpəns) /

noun British

the sum of two pennies

(used with a negative) something of little value (in the phrase not care or give twopence)

a former British silver coin, now only coined as Maundy money

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for tuppence

tuppence

mid-15c., to-pens, representing the common pronunciation of twopence (see two + pence).