bawbee
English
Etymology
From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Scots bawbee.
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /bɔːˈbiː/
Noun
bawbee (plural bawbees)
- (Scotland, historical) A coin originally worth six pennies Scots, and later three; held equivalent to an English halfpenny.
- (figuratively) A copper; a small amount of money.
- 2007, Simon Hoggart, The Guardian, 12 Jul 2007:
- He said there were already plans for a tramline, and a museum of the theatre. Folk should not, he implied, waste their bawbees on the devil's spinning wheel.
- 2007, Simon Hoggart, The Guardian, 12 Jul 2007:
Scots
Etymology
Probably shortened from Sillebawbe, the territorial designation of Alexander Orrok, Scottish master of the mint in the 16th century.
Pronunciation
Noun
bawbee (plural bawbees)
- (historical) bawbee, halfpenny
- 1823, Walter Scott, St. Ronan's Well:
- ‘And muckle they hae made o't—the bankrupt body, Sandie Lawson, hasna paid them a bawbee of four terms' rent.’
- 1823, Walter Scott, St. Ronan's Well:
- money
- dowry
- 1803, Alexander Boswell, ‘Jenny's Bawbee’:
- A' clatty, squinting through a glass, / He girn'd, ‘I'faith a bonnie lass!’ / He thought to win, wi' front o' brass, / Jenny's bawbee.
- 1803, Alexander Boswell, ‘Jenny's Bawbee’: