Farthing
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /ˈfÉ‘Ë(ɹ).ðɪŋ/
- Rhymes: -É‘Ë(ɹ)ðɪŋ
Origin
From Old English feorðing ("a quarter"), from feorða ("fourth"), probably influenced by Old Norse fiórðungr
Full definition of farthing
Noun
farthing
(plural farthings)- Former British unit of currency worth one-quarter of an old penny.
- 1883, Howard Pyle, The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood"Nay, Heaven forbid, indeed," quoth Robin, "that I should take from such as thee, jolly fellow! Not so much as one farthing would I take from thee, for I love a fair Saxon face like thine right well—more especially when it cometh from Locksley Town, and most especially when the man that owneth it is to marry a bonny lass on Thursday next. But come, tell me for what price thou wilt sell me all of thy meat and thy horse and cart."
- 1895, Parliament of Western Australia, Parliamentary Debates, Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly VIII, page 163:We must keep them to the fact that the duty is one and three quarter farthings, or nearly a half-penny in the pound and no more, and any one who tries to work it out any other way is not acting fairly in the matter.