| 释义 |
far·thing
\ˈfärthiŋ, ˈfȧth, -thēŋ\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English ferthing, from Old English fēorthung; akin to Old Frisian fiardunge, fiardeng one fourth of a mark, Middle High German vierdunc, vierdinc fourth part, Old Norse fjōrthungr; derivative from the root of Old English fēortha fourth — more at fourth (adjective)
1.
a. : a British unit of value equal to 1/4 of a penny
b. : a coin originally of silver, later of copper, and after 1860 of bronze representing this unit
2.
a. : an ancient English gold coin worth 1/4 noble
b. : a somewhat later coin worth 1/4 of a ryal
3. : any very small Roman bronze coin (as a quadrons)
4.
a. obsolete : a very small quantity
b. : something of small value : mite
< I don't care a farthing >
5. obsolete : any of various measures or quantities of land (as a quarter of an acre or of a virgate) |