Penny

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈpÉ›.ni/
• Rhymes: -É›ni

Origin

From Old English penning, penniġ, from Proto-Germanic *panningaz, of Unknown origin.

Full definition of penny

Noun

1. (historical) In the United Kingdom and Ireland, a copper coin worth 1/240 of a pound sterling or Irish pound before decimalisation. Abbreviation: d.
2. In the United Kingdom, a copper coin worth 1/100 of a pound sterling.
3. (historical) In Ireland, a coin worth 1/100 of an Irish pound before the introduction of the euro. Abbreviation: p.
4. In the US and Canada, a one-cent coin, worth 1/100 of a dollar. Abbreviation: ¢.
5. In various countries, a small-denomination copper or brass coin.
6. A unit of nail size, said to be either the cost per 100 nails, or the number of nails per penny. Abbreviation: d.
7. Money in general.to turn an honest penny
• ShakespeareWhat penny hath Rome borne,
  What men provided, what munition sent?

Usage notes

The plural pence is used as a unit of currency. The plural is pennies is used for other cases, in particular when referring to multiple individual coins.

Synonyms

• (1/240 of a pound sterling) old penny
• (1/100 of a pound sterling) new penny (old-fashioned)
• (one-cent coin) cent

Derived terms

Verb

1. (slang) To jam a door shut by inserting pennies between the doorframe and the door.Zach and Ben had only been at college for a week when their door was pennied by the girls down the hall.
2. (electronics) To circumvent the tripping of an electrical circuit breaker by the dangerous practice of inserting a coin in place of a fuse in a fuse socket.