noun,pluralpen·nies,(especially collectively for 3, 4)pence.
a copper and zinc U.S. coin, worth one 100th of the U.S. dollar; one cent. Previous compositions of U.S. pennies included certain percentages of nickel and steel.
a coin worth one 100th of the dollar of various other nations, although several of these nations, as Australia and New Zealand, no longer use pennies.
Also called new penny . a copper-plated steel, formerly bronze, coin of the United Kingdom, one 100th of a pound. Abbreviation: p
a former bronze coin and monetary unit of the United Kingdom and various other nations, one 12th of a shilling: use phased out in 1971. Abbreviation: d.
a sum of money: He spent every penny he ever earned.
the length of a nail in terms of certain standard designations, as eightpenny and sixtypenny.
adjective
Stock Exchange. of, relating to, or being penny stock: frenzied speculation in the penny market.
Idioms for penny
a bad penny, someone or something undesirable.
a pretty penny, Informal. a considerable sum of money: Their car must have cost them a pretty penny.
spend a penny, Chiefly BritishSlang. to urinate.
turn an honest penny, to earn one's living honestly; make money by fair means: He's never turned an honest penny in his life.
Origin of penny
First recordedbefore 900; Middle English peni, Old English penig, pænig, pen(n)ning, pending, cognate with Old Frisian penning, panning, Old Saxon, Dutch penning, Old High German pfenning, phantinc, phenting (German Pfennig ), Old Norse penningr (perhaps from Old English ); from unattested West Germanic or Germanic pandingaz, probably equivalent to unattested pand- + unattested -ingaz; see -ing3. The origin of spend a penny is from the former cost of using a public lavatory
They deserve every penny and more: booking a four week tour is a huge job.
How Much Money Does a Band Really Make on Tour?|Jack Conte|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Every single witness is inadmissible, hearsay, triple-hearsay,” said assistant state attorney Penny Brill in court yesterday.
Did Pablo Escobar Frame a Millionaire for Murdering Banana-Shipping Money Launderers?|Jacqui Goddard|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While there I am, getting mad at my wife for sending me cards all the time because I know she needs every penny right now.
Deep Thoughts from War Machine's Sexist, Racist Prison Blog|Melissa Leon|August 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then the director, Penny Marshall, encouraged him to drop some of the literal behavior and put more of himself into the character.
The Stacks: Robin Williams, More Than A Shtick Figure|Joe Morgenstern|August 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Maupin assured the publication he had not “spent a penny” in a strip club.
Strippers for Jesus|Olivia Nuzzi|July 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As soon as Welcome could jerk the pin loose, he whirled and stumped furiously back in the direction of Chub and Penny.
Motor Matt's Daring, or, True to His Friends|Stanley R. Matthews
With a smile, and many renewed expressions of thankfulness, the hopeful tradesman paid his penny.
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. III, No. XVII, October 1851|Various
Penny dared not take time to try to convince the youth of the folly of fleeing from Immigration authorities.
Swamp Island|Mildred A. Wirt
"Mr. Sprague touched her hair, and—and lifted one of her hands," Penny contributed quietly.
Murder at Bridge|Anne Austin
He would now, with this expedition on the way, have no penny for another.
The Sleuth of St. James's Square|Melville Davisson Post
British Dictionary definitions for penny
penny
/ (ˈpɛnɪ) /
nounpluralpenniesorpence (pɛns)
Also called (formerly): new penny(in Britain) a bronze coin having a value equal to one hundredth of a poundSymbol: p
(in Britain before 1971) a bronze or copper coin having a value equal to one twelfth of a shilling or one two-hundred-and-fortieth of a poundAbbreviation: d
a former monetary unit of the Republic of Ireland worth one hundredth of a pound
pluralpennies(in the US and Canada) a cent
a coin of similar value, as used in several other countries
(used with a negative)informal, mainlyBritishthe least amount of moneyI don't have a penny
a bad pennyinformal, mainlyBritishan objectionable person or thing (esp in the phrase turn up like a bad penny)
a pretty pennyinformala considerable sum of money
spend a pennyBritishinformalto urinate
the penny droppedinformal, mainlyBritishthe explanation of something was finally realized
two a pennyplentiful but of little value
Word Origin for penny
Old English penig, pening; related to Old Saxon penni (n) g, Old High German pfeni (n) c, German Pfennig