penny
In the United Kingdom, a unit of currency worth ¹⁄₁₀₀ of a pound sterling, or a copper coin worth this amount. Abbreviation: p.
Noun 4 meanings
In the United Kingdom, a unit of currency worth ¹⁄₁₀₀ of a pound sterling, or a copper coin worth this amount. Abbreviation: p.
In the US and (formerly) Canada, a one-cent coin, worth ¹⁄₁₀₀ of a dollar. Abbreviation: ¢.
In various countries, a small-denomination copper or brass coin.
A unit of nail size, said to be either the cost per 100 nails, or the number of nails per penny. Abbreviation: d.
Verb 2 meanings
To circumvent the tripping of an electrical circuit breaker by the dangerous practice of inserting a coin in place of a fuse in a fuse socket.
During a meal or as part of a drinking game, to drop a penny in a person's drink with the expectation that they finish it (or some such variation thereof); commonly associated with crewdates at Oxford and swaps at Cambridge.
“You got pennied! Down it, fresher.”
Etymology
From Middle English peny, from Old English peniġ, penniġ, penning (“penny”), from Proto-West Germanic *panning, from Proto-Germanic *panningaz, of uncertain origin (see that page for theories). Doublet of pfennig and fening.
Similar and opposite words
PENNY at a glance
PENNY has 5 letters and scores 10 points in Scrabble (P 3 + E 1 + N 1 + N 1 + Y 4) and 12 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #6,292 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with penny
All rhymesOne letter away
- JENNY15
- BENNY10
- PEONY10
- HENNY11
- PENNE7
- PENNA7
- GENNY9
- PUNNY10
- FENNY11
- TENNY8
- PINNY10
- PENNI7
- WENNY11
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