farthing
/ˈfɑː(ɹ).ðɪŋ/ noun, proper noun
Forms farthings fourthing farthen
- noun (historical, now rare) A quarter of any monetary unit or measure.
- noun (historical) Former British unit of currency worth one-quarter of an old penny; or a coin representing this.
- noun (figurative) A very small quantity or value; the least possible amount.
- noun (obsolete) A division of land.
- proper noun A surname.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English ferthing, from Old English fēorþing, fēorþung (“a quarter, fourth part, farthing”), from fēorþa (“fourth”), from Proto-Germanic *fedurþungaz (“a quarter”), probably influenced by Old Norse fjórðungr (“a fourth part, quarter”). Equivalent to fourth + -ing; compare English riding (“third part”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun The fourth of a penny; a small copper coin of Great Britain, being a cent in United States currency.
- noun A very small quantity or value. [Obs.]
Etymology [OE. furthing, AS. feór, fr. feór fourth, feór, feówer, four. See Four.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “farthing”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details