ˈpenɪ n. (pl.
for separate coins -ies, for a
sum of
money pence) 1 a
British coin and monetary unit equal to one-hundredth of a pound. °Abbr.: p. 2
hist. a former British
bronze coin and monetary unit equal to one-two-hundred-and-fortieth of a pound. °Abbr.: d. 3 US colloq. a one-cent coin. 4 Bibl. a
denarius. øin for a penny, in for a pound an
exhortation to
total commitment to an
undertaking. like a
bad penny continually returning
when unwanted. pennies
from heaven unexpected benefits. penny
black the first adhesive postage stamp (1840,
value one penny). penny
cress Bot. a
plant, Thlaspi arvense,
with flat
round pods. penny
dreadful Brit. a
cheap sensational comic or story-book. the penny drops colloq. one begins to
understand at last. penny
farthing Brit. an
early type of
bicycle with one
large and one
small wheel. a penny for
your thoughts a
request to a
thoughtful person to
confide in the
speaker. penny-in-the-slot (of a machine) activated by a coin pushed
into a slot. penny-pincher a
niggardly person. penny-pinching n. meanness. --adj. mean. penny post Brit. hist. the
system of carrying letters etc. at a
standard charge of 1d.
regardless of
distance. penny
whistle a
tin pipe with
six holes giving
different notes. penny wise
too careful in
saving small amounts. penny wise and pound
foolish mean in small expenditures but
wasteful of large amounts. a
pretty penny a large sum of money.
two a penny
almost worthless though easily obtained. [OE penig, penning f. Gmc, perh. rel. to PAWN(2)]
