threepenny, a. (n.)
(ˈθrɪpənɪ, ˈθrɛpənɪ)
1. Of the value or price of threepence. a. threepenny nail, a nail of the size which originally cost threepence a hundred. (See penny 10.)
| 1429–30 Rec. St. Mary at Hill 73 Also for d{supc} iij peny nayll, j d ob. 1481, 1484 [see penny 10]. 1486 Naval Acc. Hen. VII (1896) 16, ccc iij peny nailes ix{supd}. 1494–5 in Swayne Sarum Churchw. Acc. (1896) 43 De clauis vocatis threpenynayle precii centene iij d. |
b. threepenny bit (bit n.2 8 c), threepenny piece = threepence 2; also fig. (in reference to the size of the silver coin) something very small. Also ellipt. threepenny.
| 1729 Evelyn's Kal. Hort. 199 A Leaf as broad as a Three-penny Piece. 1879 St. George's Hosp. Rep. IX. 311 Pieces of..bone, varying in size from that of a threepenny-piece to half-a-crown. 1884 W. Black in Harper's Mag. Dec. 21/2 A small threepenny-bit of a creature. 1892 A. Maclaren Paul's Prayers, etc. (1893) 289 Only a threepenny bit and not a talent. 1905 Daily Chron. 8 Nov. 6/7 Threepennies, indeed, are as characteristic of the provinces as the farthing is peculiar to London. |
c. Costing or involving an outlay of threepence.
| 1698 Christ Exalted 55 No more shaken than a pair of Three-penny Bellows can shake down the Monument. 1712–13 Swift Jrnl. to Stella 17 Feb., I play but threepenny ombre. 1825 T. Hook Sayings Ser. ii. Passion & Princ. viii. III. 126 The letter which had arrived by the threepenny post from Hackney. 1902 Westm. Gaz. 25 Apr. 7/3 The 7.3 from Hoe-street, Walthamstow, commonly known as ‘the last threepenny train’ (largely used by workmen). |
d. transf. Of or pertaining to threepence or to something worth threepence; able or willing to pay threepence.
| 1630 J. Taylor (Water P.) Navy Land Ships Wks. i. 79/1 Some Men (being borne vnder a threepeny planet) can neither by paines..or any industry be worth a groat. 1895 Daily News 13 Dec. 7/1 Consigned to the threepenny boxes of the second-hand booksellers. 1898 Daily Chron. 14 Oct. 3/4 What in magazine parlance may be called..the ‘threepenny’ public. 1899 J. Pennell in Fortn. Rev. LXV. 113 It is useless to discuss any matter with the threepenny populace. |
2. fig. as a disparaging epithet: Of little worth; trifling, paltry, cheap, worthless.
| 1613 Rowland Four Knaves (Percy Soc.) 47 Like threepenie watch-men..Each with a rustie browne-bill in his hand. 1651 C. Cartwright Cert. Relig. i. 76 Such men..were permitted to excommunicate for a threepeny matter. 1823 Scott Peveril xxvii, Down to that three-penny baggage, Mistress Nelly. |
3. n. A length of rod used in basket-making.
| 1912 [see long-small s.v. long a.1 A. 18]. 1953 A. G. Knock Willow Basket-Work (ed. 5) 9 Three feet, Tacks;..six feet, Threepenny. |