halfpennyworth

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   historical British: the amount of something that could be bought for a halfpenny

   The child asked the shopkeeper for a halfpennyworth of sweets.

2. 2
   noun

   a trifling or negligible amount

   He did not know a halfpennyworth about the smuggling operation.

3. 3
   noun

   one's small contribution to a discussion or opinion on a matter

   She offered her halfpennyworth before the committee voted.

From Middle English halpenyworth, a compound of halfpenny + worth. The contracted British form ha'p'orth reflects the compressed pronunciation. A tiny monetary value readily produced the figurative sense 'a negligible amount.'

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