| 释义 |
ˈthree-ˈfarthings
In the literal sense: see farthing. Also, money of the value of three farthings; hence the name of a silver coin of that value issued by Queen Elizabeth.
1561Queen Elizabeth Proclam. 15 Nov., Because a halfpeny cannot be made of such finenesse to beare any conuenient bulke, an other small peece shall also be coyned of three farthynges..whiche..shalbe of meere fine starling syluer. 1588Shakes. L.L.L. iii. i. 140 Remuneration, O, that's the Latine word for three-farthings. Ibid. 150 Threefarthings worth of Silke. 1598B. Jonson Ev. Man in Hum. ii. i, He values me at a crack'd three-farthings, for aught I see. a1616Beaum. & Fl. Scornf. Lady iii. i, Whip'd and then crop'd, For washing out the roses in three farthings, To make 'em pence. 1898G. B. Rawlings Brit. Coinage 65 The threefarthings..was the least of all the coins having a rose behind the ear. 1898[see three-halfpence].
Hence three-ˈfarthing a., of the value of three farthings; hence, paltry, insignificant.
c1600Timon iii. v. (Shaks. Soc.) 56 Away, away, thou poore three farthing Iacke! 1656Earl of Monmouth tr. Boccalini, Pol. Touchstone (1674) 276 They had put to arbitriment the salvation of mens souls upon a three-farthing business. 1822tr. Aristoph., Plutus 15 Do you suppose the despotism..would be worth a three-farthing piece, were you [Plutus] to recover? 1898G. B. Rawlings Brit. Coinage 64 Two new denominations in silver are introduced in this [Elizabeth's] reign, namely, the threehalfpenny and threefarthing pieces. Mod. A three-farthing bun. |