pencelessadj.
/ˈpɛnsləs/, U.S. /ˈpɛnsləs/ Now rare.
Lacking money; destitute; = penniless adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > poverty > [adjective] > poor > lacking money
to the boneOE
silverlessc1325
pennilessc1330
moneylessc1400
impecunious1596
crossless1600
penceless1605
unmoneyed1606
coinless1614
emptya1643
out of pocket1679
money-bound1710
broke1716
embarrassed1744
stiver cramped1785
plackless1786
taper1789
poundlessa1794
shillingless1797
unpennied1804
fundless1809
impecuniary1814
hard up1821
soldier-thighed1825
cashless1833
stiverless1839
fly-blown1853
strapped1857
stick1859
tight1859
stone-broke1886
stony1886
oofless1888
stony-broke1890
motherless1906
penny-pinched1918
skinned1924
skint1925
on the beach1935
potless1936
boracic1959
uptight1967
brassic1982
1605 A. Warren Pouerties Patience in Poore Mans Passions sig. K Men with pencelesse purse Durst sing in thiefes presence dischar'd of feare.
1638 R. Brathwait Barnabees Journall (new ed.) iii. sig. Q5 Ancient Stamford..Where are pencelesse purses many.
1736 S. Wesley Poems 256 Scrubby penceless Rascals..Can fill a List..With Men ne'er spoke to by themselves or Friends.
1848 E. Bulwer-Lytton Harold I. iv. vii. 305 My father's son stands landless and penceless.
1960 J. Barth Sot-weed Factor iii. v. 566 Joan Toast was a penceless guttersnipe like myself.
1994 Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) (Nexis) 10 July (Sports section) 1 c Those attacks were senseless, but London bettors say their biggest crime, typically, is ending up penceless.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1605