Penny post

Penny post
Penny Pen*ny, n.; pl. {Pennies}or {Pence}. Pennies denotes the number of coins; pence the amount of pennies in value. [OE. peni, AS. penig, pening, pending; akin to D. penning, OHG. pfenning, pfenting, G. pfennig, Icel. penningr; of uncertain origin.] 1. An English coin, formerly of copper, now of bronze, the twelfth part of an English shilling in account value, and equal to four farthings, or about two cents; -- usually indicated by the abbreviation d. (the initial of denarius). [1913 Webster]

Note: ``The chief Anglo-Saxon coin, and for a long period the only one, corresponded to the denarius of the Continent . . . [and was] called penny, denarius, or denier.'' --R. S. Poole. The ancient silver penny was worth about three pence sterling (see {Pennyweight}). The old Scotch penny was only one twelfth the value of the English coin. In the United States the word penny is popularly used for cent. [1913 Webster]

2. Any small sum or coin; a groat; a stiver. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. Money, in general; as, to turn an honest penny. [1913 Webster]

What penny hath Rome borne, What men provided, what munition sent? --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. (Script.) See {Denarius}. [1913 Webster]

{Penny cress} (Bot.), an annual herb of the Mustard family, having round, flat pods like silver pennies ({Thlaspi arvense}). --Dr. Prior.

{Penny dog} (Zo["o]l.), a kind of shark found on the South coast of Britain: the tope.

{Penny father}, a penurious person; a niggard. [Obs.] --Robinson (More's Utopia).

{Penny grass} (Bot.), pennyroyal. [R.]

{Penny post}, a post carrying a letter for a penny; also, a mail carrier.

{Penny wise}, wise or prudent only in small matters; saving small sums while losing larger; -- used chiefly in the phrase, penny wise and pound foolish. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Penny Post — The Penny Post is any one of several postal systems in which normal letters could be sent for one penny. United Kingdom London Penny PostIn the Kingdom of England, the London Penny Post was established in 1680 by William Dockwra, who established… …   Wikipedia

  • penny post — (formerly) any of various postal systems delivering mail for a penny a letter. [1670 80] * * * ▪ postal service       private postal service created by the London merchant William Dockwra in 1680. All letters and packets up to one pound in weight …   Universalium

  • penny-post — pennˈy postˈ noun A means of, or organization for, carrying a letter for a penny • • • Main Entry: ↑penny …   Useful english dictionary

  • penny post — noun 1. a. : a postal system carrying a letter for a penny: (1) : a system established in London about 1680 (2) : the former system of Great Britain established in 1840 ( …   Useful english dictionary

  • penny post — noun historical a system of carrying letters at a charge of one penny, in particular that established in the UK in 1840 at the instigation of Sir Rowland Hill …   English new terms dictionary

  • Uniform Penny Post — This article is about the 1840 uniform penny postage service in the UK. For similarly named services, see Penny Post. Royal Mail Post Office Regulations handbill giving details of the Uniform Penny Post, dated January 7, 1840 The Uniform Penny… …   Wikipedia

  • Penny — Pen*ny, n.; pl. {Pennies}or {Pence}. Pennies denotes the number of coins; pence the amount of pennies in value. [OE. peni, AS. penig, pening, pending; akin to D. penning, OHG. pfenning, pfenting, G. pfennig, Icel. penningr; of uncertain origin.]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Penny cress — Penny Pen*ny, n.; pl. {Pennies}or {Pence}. Pennies denotes the number of coins; pence the amount of pennies in value. [OE. peni, AS. penig, pening, pending; akin to D. penning, OHG. pfenning, pfenting, G. pfennig, Icel. penningr; of uncertain… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Penny dog — Penny Pen*ny, n.; pl. {Pennies}or {Pence}. Pennies denotes the number of coins; pence the amount of pennies in value. [OE. peni, AS. penig, pening, pending; akin to D. penning, OHG. pfenning, pfenting, G. pfennig, Icel. penningr; of uncertain… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Penny father — Penny Pen*ny, n.; pl. {Pennies}or {Pence}. Pennies denotes the number of coins; pence the amount of pennies in value. [OE. peni, AS. penig, pening, pending; akin to D. penning, OHG. pfenning, pfenting, G. pfennig, Icel. penningr; of uncertain… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”