Fippenny bit

Fippenny bit
Fippenny bit Fip"pen*ny bit` (? or ?). [Corruption of five penny bit.] The Spanish half real, or one sixteenth of a dollar, -- so called in Pennsylvania and the adjacent States. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Note: Before the act of Congress, Feb. 21, 1857, caused the adoption of decimal coins and the withdrawal of foreign coinage from circulation, this coin passed currently for 61/4 cents, and was called in New England a fourpence ha'penny or fourpence; in New York a sixpence; in Pennsylvania, Virginia, etc., a fip; and in Louisiana, a picayune. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • fippenny bit — /fip euh nee, fip nee/ the Spanish half real, the value of which was about six cents. Also called fippenny piece. [1795 1805, Amer.; assimilated var. of FIVE PENNY BIT] * * * …   Universalium

  • fippenny bit — noun : a Spanish half real piece : a silver coin worth 1/16 of a Spanish dollar that circulated in the eastern United States before 1857 and passed current for about six cents called also fip, fourpence ha penny, sixpence * * * /fip euh nee, fip… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Picayune — Pic a*yune , n. [From the language of the Caribs.] A small coin of the value of six and a quarter cents. See {Fippenny bit}. [Local, U.S.] [1913 Webster] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fip — ˈfip noun ( s) Etymology: by shortening : fippenny bit wouldn t give a fip for any other way of travel S.H.Adams …   Useful english dictionary

  • fourpence ha'penny — noun : fippenny bit …   Useful english dictionary

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