| 释义 |
ˈGod's-ˌpenny
[See god n. 5 f; so called from being originally devoted to some religious or charitable purpose. Cf. Du. godspenning, G. gottespfennig, OSw. gudspäning; F. denier à Dieu.]
1. A small sum paid as earnest-money on striking a bargain, esp. on concluding a purchase or the hiring of a servant (cf. arles-penny, earnest-penny). Now only dial.
1340Ayenb. 91 Þe loue of herte, þet is þe godes peny huermide me bayþ alle þe guodes of þe wordle. 1490Burgh Recs. Edinb. (1869) 59 That the thesaurer of the towne..proffer a goddis penny and bye the same [vittaillis or tymmer] vpoun a competent pryce. 1530Palsgr. 586/2 Holde forthe thy hande, take an ernest penny or a Goddes penny [F. vng denier en arres or vng denier a Dieu]. 1603Owen Pembrokesh. (1891) 190 Savinge onelie in earnest peny at the bargaine makinge wch the plaine men called a gods penie. 1609Skene Reg. Maj., Stat. Gild 144 Gif any man buyes Hering..and hes given Gods pennie, or silver in arles [etc.]. 1625N. Riding Rec. (1885) III. ii. 254 His wife had formerly hired the said woman and given her a Godes penny. 1662Pepys Diary 23 Sept., In both which places at the making all contracts and bargains they give so much, which they call God's penny. 1832Yorksh. Dial., Ah'd a godspenny at Stowsley market. 1855Robinson Whitby Gloss., Godspenny, earnest money, generally half-a-crown given to a servant when hired. 1887in Mid. Yorks. Gloss.
fig.1602R. T. Five Godlie Serm. 26 Admitting them his tenants by giuing them the Gods penny or earnest pennie of his spirit.
b. A rebate given on making a payment.
1885Law Jrnl. Rep. LIV. 136/1 The legal effect was to be as if the whole was paid down and a portion thrown back as a God's-penny.
†2. A penny given in charity. Obs.
1550Crowley Epigr., Beggers Wks. (1872) 16 Go fyll me thys quarte pot, full to the brynke. The tonge muste haue bastynge, it wyll the better wagge, To pull a Goddes penye out of a churles bagge.
†3. nonce-use. A broker's commission. Obs.
1483Caxton Dialogues (E.E.T.S.) Olyuer the brocour wynneth by brocorage, with one goddes peny [F. a vng denier a dieu] twenty pound or thirty. |