halfpenny

English

Alternative forms

• ha'penny

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈheɪpəni/, X-SAMPA: /"heIp@ni/ or IPA: /ˈheɪpni/, X-SAMPA: /"heIpni/

• Audio (UK)

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  direct, non-slang pronunciation without reduction

Noun

halfpenny (plural halfpennies or halfpence)

1. (plural: halfpennies) A discontinued British coin worth half of one penny (old or new).
   • Christmas is coming (traditional carol)

     If you haven't got a penny, / A ha'penny will do, / If you haven't got a ha'penny, / Then God bless you.

2. (plural: halfpence) An quantity of money worth half a penny.
   • 1599, William Shakespeare, As You Like It (act III, scene 2)

     There were none principal; they were all like one another as halfpence are; every one fault seeming monstrous till his fellow fault came to match it.

   • 1848, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair

     "If a pound of mutton-candles cost sevenpence-halfpenny, how much must Dobbin cost?"

Adjective

halfpenny (no comparative or superlative)

1. Costing or worth one halfpenny.
   • 1594, William Shakespeare, King Henry VI, Part 2 (act IV, scene 2)

     There shall be in England seven halfpenny loaves sold for a penny; the three-hooped pot shall have ten hoops; and I will make it felony to drink small beer.