twopennyadj.n.
A. adj.† 3. twopenny grass n. Herb twopence (see twopence n. 5).† 4. Applied to a ward in a prison. (The allusion is obscure.) Obsolete. rare—1.
1. 1812 L. Hunt in Examiner 25 May 321/1 The two-penny postmen should ride about upon elephants.1813 Moore (title) Intercepted Letters; or, The Twopenny Post-Bag.1830 Parl. Papers XIII. 46 The twopenny-post riders convey greater weights than the general-post riders.† f. twopenny rope n. Obsolete a cheap lodging-house (see quot. 1836).
a.
(a) Of the value of, amounting to, or costing twopence. twopenny faith, the name by which Archbishop Hamilton's tract, Ane Godlie Exhortatioun, etc., published in 1559, was popularly known in Scotland.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > monetary value > [adjective] > specific values
twopenny1532
sixpenny1592
fourpenny1597
threepenny1627
ninepenny1632
ten-pound1673
two-bit1802
four-figure1842
million-dollar1854
two-cent1859
thousand-guinea1894
thruppence1895
five-figure1971
six-figure1971
1532 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1905) VI. 156 Item, for vj scoir tuapenny breid..xx s.
1558–9 J. Knox Hist. Reformation i, in Wks. (1846) I. 291 The Bischoppis..sett furth somewhat in print, which of the People was called ‘The Twa-penny Fayth’.
1589 T. Nashe Anat. Absurditie sig. Biii The sum of their diuinitie consists in twopennie Catichismes.
1603 H. Crosse Vertues Common-wealth sig. P4v For a two-penny almes hee may be throughly taught and made a perfect good scholler.
1633 P. Massinger New Way to pay Old Debts iii. ii. sig. F4 Euen staru'd for want of two penny chopps.
1705 London Gaz. No. 4107/4 A Sable Tippet, with a black Two-peny Ribbon.
1825 T. Jefferson Autobiogr. in Wks. (1859) I. 106 A two-penny duty on tea.
1852 W. M. Thackeray Henry Esmond I. ii. 51 His nephew slunk by..to his twopenny ordinary.
1873 J. Ruskin Fors Clavigera (1896) II. xxxviii. 295 People will eat twopenny herrings..when they wouldn't touch half-penny ones.
(b) twopenny piece n. any coin of the value of twopence (cf. twopence n. 2); in modern use (frequently pronounced /ˈtuːˌpɛnɪ/), a bronze coin first issued in Britain with the introduction of decimal currency in 1971.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > coins collective > English coins > [noun] > coin of 2d
twopencec1450
half-groat1451
penny of twopence1477
twopenny piece1607
deuce1699
twopenny1736
demi-groata1763
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 358 A round peece of leather, as broad as a two penny peece.
1907 Westm. Gaz. 11 Nov. 8/2 The same firm was authorised by George III to manufacture penny and twopenny pieces.
1972 A. Ross London Assignment 65 The old witch outside began to rap on the glass door [of the telephone kiosk] with her tuppenny pieces.
1974 A. Ross Bradford Business 146 [He] offered me a tuppenny piece... ‘Take it,’ he said testily, ‘and phone her back.’
1976 Daily Tel. 5 Nov. 13/6 There were plastic bags of tuppenny pieces from current juniors who had held raffles in ‘break’.
1979 J. Scott Clutch of Vipers viii. 141 The chunk as the Twopenny piece fell.
b. Involving an outlay of twopence; for the use of or admission to which there is a charge of twopence. twopenny tube, a popular name for the Central London Railway (see tube n. 7b), on which the fare was originally twopence for any distance.
Π
1599 Contract building Globe Theatre in Henslowe Papers (1907) 6 The gentlemens roomes and Twoepennie roomes.
1602 B. Jonson Poetaster v. iii. sig. M4v In Tauernes, Two-penny Roomes, Tiring-houses. View more context for this quotation
1765 Chron. in Ann. Reg. 70/1 Letting out two-penny lodgings.
1768 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued I. i. 86 He..sits among his fellow topers at the two-penny club.
1814 J. Boswell in Songs Justiciary Opera (1816) 9 Mine's a tippeny eatin house.
1831 D. E. Williams Life Sir T. Lawrence II. 23 Sources of petty gains—mere two-penny shows.
1900 H. D. Browne in Londoner 30 June (heading) The Twopenny Tube.
1903 ‘A. McNeill’ Egregious Eng. (ed. 3) 199 They saw Peter Robinson's and the tuppenny tube.
c. twopenny ale (or beer), a quality of ale originally sold at twopence per quart; in Scotland, at twopence a Scotch pint (= A. 3 imperial pints).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > ale or beer > [noun] > at specific price
twopenny ale (or beer)1710
twopenny1711
the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > ale or beer > ale > [noun] > other ales
strawberry ale1523
red ale1557
sixteens1584
bottle ale1586
hostler ale1590
Pimlico1609
eyebright1612
quest-ale1681
hugmatee1699
Newcastle brown (ale)1707
pale ale1708
twopenny ale (or beer)1710
twoops1729
flux ale1742
pale1743
Ringwood1759
brown ale1776
light ale1780
blue cap1789
brown1820
India pale ale1837
Tipper1843
ostler ale1861
fourpenny ale1871
four-ale1883
ninepenny1886
Scotch1886
barley wine1940
IPA1953
light1953
real ale1972
1710 London Gaz. No. 4668/1 Every Barrel of Twopenny Ale.
1798 W. Hutton Life 6 My father treated us with a quart of twopenny beer.
1819 W. Scott Legend of Montrose iv, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. III. 205 A huge barrel of twopenny ale.
d. twopenny post: the London post (1801–1839) for conveyance of letters, etc. at an ordinary charge of twopence each. Also attributive, as twopenny postman, etc.
ΘΠ
society > communication > correspondence > postal services > [noun] > types of service
printed paper1553
letter post1660
penny post1680
general post1687
parcel post1790
penny postage1798
twopenny post1811
twopenny1818
printed matter1836
parcel delivery1837
bangy1842
book post1848
special delivery1865
V.P.P.1888
express delivery1891
rural free delivery1891
certified mail1955
recorded delivery1960
Mailgram1969
freepost1970
1811 J. Austen Sense & Sensibility II. iv. 56 Marianne..requested the footman..to get that letter conveyed..to the two-penny post . View more context for this quotation
1838 C. Dickens Oliver Twist II. xxix. 159 To make an appointment by the twopenny post.
1887 T. A. Trollope What I Remember I. ii. 44 The twopenny post was considered an immense boon to Londoners.
e. Of iron: Costing twopence per pound.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > iron > [adjective] > other types of iron
twopenny1858
constructional1894
Armco1914
1858 W. Greener Gunnery in 1858 239 Making Double and Single Guns, with ‘Twopenny’ or ‘Wedgebury Skelp Iron’.
ΘΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > dwelling place or abode > accommodation or lodging > public lodging-places > [noun] > cheap, dirty, or run-down lodging house or hotel
rope1836
twopenny rope1836
bughouse1840
bug trap1851
hash house1865
fleabag1907
no-tell motel1961
roach motel1982
1836 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers (1837) xvi. 160 The twopenny rope..is just a cheap lodgin'house, vere the beds is twopence a night...They has two ropes, 'bout six foot apart, and three from the floor, which goes right down the room; and the beds are made of slips of coarse sacking, stretched across 'em...At six o'clock every mornin', they lets go the ropes at one end, and down falls all the lodgers.
1850 C. Kingsley Alton Locke I. v. 80 You must keep moving all night..or else you goes to a twopenny-rope shop and gets a lie down.
g. twopenny library n. Historical a lending library, usually operated from a shop, from which a book could be borrowed for twopence a week.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > book > library or collection of books > library, place, or institution > [noun] > private commercial
book club1740
library1836
rental library1923
twopenny library1935
1935 W. G. Taylor in J. Hampden Bk. World 85 That the ‘reading public’ is growing rapidly seems evident from the growth of the ‘twopenny library’.
1942 J. B. Priestley Black-out in Gretley iii. 23 Twopenny libraries bright with book jackets.
1963 ‘R. Findlater’ What are Writers Worth? 7 The ‘twopenny libraries’ which spread rapidly throughout the country before the war, and have vanished nearly as quickly in the past decade.
1978 S. Hodges Gollancz v. 115 The twopenny libraries..had come into their own..in the mid-thirties.
2.
a. figurative as a disparaging epithet: Of very little value; paltry, trumpery, trifling, worthless; esp. in (not) to care (or give) a twopenny damn (or hang); also elliptical.
ΘΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > paltry, mean, or contemptible
unworthlyc1230
wretcha1250
seely1297
vilec1320
not worth a cress (kerse)1377
the value of a rushc1380
threadbarec1412
wretched1450
miserable?a1513
rascal1519
prettya1522
not worth a whistlea1529
pegrall1535
plack1539
pelting1540
scald1542
sleeveless1551
baggage1553
paltering1553
piddling1559
twopenny1560
paltry1565
rubbish1565
baggagely1573
pelfish1577
halfpenny1579
palting1579
baubling1581
three-halfpenny1581
pitiful1582
triobolar1585
squirting1589
not worth a lousea1592
hedge1596
cheap1597
peddling1597
dribbling1600
mean1600
rascally1600
three-farthingc1600
draughty1602
dilute1605
copper1609
peltry?a1610
threepenny1613
pelsy1631
pimping1640
triobolary1644
pigwidgeon1647
dustya1649
fiddling1652
puddlinga1653
insignificant1658
piteous1667
snotty1681
scrubbed1688
dishonourable1699
scrub1711
footy1720
fouty1722
rubbishing1731
chuck-farthing1748
rubbishy1753
shabby1753
scrubby1754
poxya1758
rubbishly1777
waff-like1808
trinkety1817
meanish1831
one-eyed1843
twiddling1844
measly1847
poking1850
picayunish1852
vild1853
picayune1856
snide1859
two-cent1859
rummagy1872
faddling1883
finicking1886
slushy1889
twopence halfpenny1890
jerk1893
pissy1922
crappy1928
two-bit1932
piddly1933
chickenshit1934
pissing1937
penny packet1943
farkakte1960
pony1964
gay1978
1560 J. Jewel Let. in J. Jewel & H. Cole True Copies Lett. sig. J.iv To make the people thinke that we reade nothyng els but ii. penny doctoures, as ye cal them.
1643 S. Marshall Copy of Let. 5 Even in a two-peny matter.
1740 C. Cibber Apol. Life C. Cibber x. 194 Twopenny Criticks must live, as well as Eighteenpenny Authors!
1848 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair lxi. 555 This woman, with her twopenny gentility.
1897 W. S. Maugham Liza of Lambeth xi. 215 I don't care a twopenny 'ang for all them blokes.
1898 R. Fry Let. 5 Sept. (1972) I. 172 The date for Bissolo's death, for which I don't care just now a tuppenny damn.
1924 D. H. Lawrence & M. L. Skinner Boy in Bush 58 I don't believe she cares a tuppenny for 'em.
1980 D. K. Cameron Willie Gavin ix. 86 It was rich in its lairds, men who..gave not a tuppeny damn..for anybody.
b. twopenny upright n. slang. a prostitute.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > prostitution > [noun] > a prostitute
meretrixOE
whoreOE
soiled dovea1250
common womanc1330
putec1384
bordel womanc1405
putaina1425
brothelc1450
harlot?a1475
public womanc1510
naughty pack?1529
draba1533
cat1535
strange woman1535
stew1552
causey-paikera1555
putanie?1566
drivelling1570
twigger1573
punka1575
hackney1579
customer1583
commodity1591
streetwalker1591
traffic1591
trug1591
hackster1592
polecat1593
stale1593
mermaid1595
medlar1597
occupant1598
Paphian1598
Winchester goose1598
pagan1600
hell-moth1602
aunt1604
moll1604
prostitution1605
community1606
miss1606
night-worm1606
bat1607
croshabell1607
prostitute1607
pug1607
venturer1607
nag1608
curtal1611
jumbler1611
land-frigate1611
walk-street1611
doll-common1612
turn-up1612
barber's chaira1616
commonera1616
public commonera1616
trader1615
venturea1616
stewpot1616
tweak1617
carry-knave1623
prostibule1623
fling-dusta1625
mar-taila1625
night-shadea1625
waistcoateera1625
night trader1630
coolera1632
meretrician1631
painted ladya1637
treadle1638
buttock1641
night-walker1648
mob?1650
lady (also girl, etc.) of the game1651
lady of pleasure1652
trugmullion1654
fallen woman1659
girlc1662
high-flyer1663
fireship1665
quaedama1670
small girl1671
visor-mask1672
vizard-mask1672
bulker1673
marmalade-madam1674
town miss1675
town woman1675
lady of the night1677
mawks1677
fling-stink1679
Whetstone whore1684
man-leech1687
nocturnal1693
hack1699
strum1699
fille de joie1705
market-dame1706
screw1725
girl of (the) town1733
Cytherean1751
street girl1764
monnisher1765
lady of easy virtue1766
woman (also lady) of the town1766
kennel-nymph1771
chicken1782
stargazer1785
loose fish1809
receiver general1811
Cyprian1819
mollya1822
dolly-mop1834
hooker1845
charver1846
tail1846
horse-breaker1861
professional1862
flagger1865
cocodette1867
cocotte1867
queen's woman1871
common prostitute1875
joro1884
geisha1887
horizontal1888
flossy1893
moth1896
girl of the pavement1900
pross1902
prossie1902
pusher1902
split-arse mechanic1903
broad1914
shawl1922
bum1923
quiff1923
hustler1924
lady of the evening1924
prostie1926
working girl1928
prostisciutto1930
maggie1932
brass1934
brass nail1934
mud kicker1934
scupper1935
model1936
poule de luxe1937
pro1937
chromo1941
Tom1941
pan-pan1949
twopenny upright1958
scrubber1959
slack1959
yum-yum girl1960
Suzie Wong1962
mattress1964
jamette1965
ho1966
sex worker1971
pavement princess1976
parlour girl1979
crack whore1990
1958 L. Durrell Balthazar ii. 41 A little old tart, button-eyed and razor-nosed—a tart of the Waterloo Bridge epoch, a veritable Tuppeny Upright.
1978 Maledicta 2 258 At the turn of the century, an Iowa woman was awarded $200 for being called a ‘whore’, while in England, at about the same time, a woman was denied any award for being called a ‘two-penny upright’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Primulaceae family or plants > [noun]
herb twopence1548
twopenny grass1548
water pimpernel1575
moneywort1578
pimpernel1633
piss-weed1714
samolus1753
bastard pimpernel1762
chaff-weed1796
pimpernel chaffweed1796
primwort1846
brook weed1861
money plant1873
Wandering Jenny1878
creeping Jenny1882
Wandering Sailor(s1882
1548 W. Turner Names of Herbes sig. H.ijv Centimorbia otherwise called Nummularia..may be called in englishe Herbe .ij. pence or two penigrasse because it hath two and two leaues standyng together of ech syde of the stalke lyke pence.
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball i. liv. 78 This herbe is now called..in English..two penny grasse.
1597 J. Gerard Herball ii. 505 Nummularia..herbe Two pence, and Two pennie grasse.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > imprisonment > prison > [adjective] > applied to a ward
twopenny1605
1605 G. Chapman et al. Eastward Hoe v. sig. H4 I neuer knew..Prisoners..more deuout. They will sit you vp all night singing of Psalmes,..onely, Securitie sings a note to high, sometimes, because hee lyes i'the Two-penny ward, farre of, and can not take his tune.
B. n. (elliptical use of the adjective.)
1.
a. Short for twopenny ale at sense A. 1c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > ale or beer > [noun] > at specific price
twopenny ale (or beer)1710
twopenny1711
1711 A. Ramsay Elegy Maggy Johnstoun i To braw tippony bid adieu.
1729 Dulcinead 5 (note) The Old Swan in the Butcher-Row, noted for good Twopenny.
1762 R. Forbes Jrnls. Episcopal Visitations (1886) 181 To drink Tippanny and Whiskie.
1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering I. vi. 97 The gossip over the good twopenny in every ale-house.
1858 M. Porteous Real Souter Johnny (ed. 2) 13 To appease their ‘lowin' drouth’ either with the Smith's ‘tippeny’ or the Landlord's ‘strong drink’.
b. Short for twopenny post at sense A. 1d: see A. 1d above.
ΘΠ
society > communication > correspondence > letter > [noun] > letters, etc., by method of dispatch or conveyance
post-letter1648
ship-letterc1675
by-letter1685
penny-post letter1686
way letter1710
by-night1766
cross-letter1789
twopenny1818
box letter1827
non-paid1829
balloon-letter1870
pigeongram1875
railway letter1891
pneumatogram1894
airmail1918
aerogram1919
airgram1919
air letter1920
pneumatique1924
pneu1926
snail mail1929
aerogramme1934
airgraph1941
society > communication > correspondence > postal services > [noun] > types of service
printed paper1553
letter post1660
penny post1680
general post1687
parcel post1790
penny postage1798
twopenny post1811
twopenny1818
printed matter1836
parcel delivery1837
bangy1842
book post1848
special delivery1865
V.P.P.1888
express delivery1891
rural free delivery1891
certified mail1955
recorded delivery1960
Mailgram1969
freepost1970
1818 J. Keats Let. Oct. (1931) I. 263 Haslam..has taken all the Letters except this sheet, which I shall send him by the Twopenny.
1832 C. Dickens Let. ?Aug. (1965) I. 9 The place has no other name, but a twopenny directed as above will no doubt find us.
2. A twopenny piece (= twopence n. 2), or the sum of twopence.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > money > medium of exchange or currency > coins collective > English coins > [noun] > coin of 2d
twopencec1450
half-groat1451
penny of twopence1477
twopenny piece1607
deuce1699
twopenny1736
demi-groata1763
1736 F. Drake Eboracum i. vi. 189 Pennyes or two pennyes, halfpennyes or farthings.
3. A jocular name for a child.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > child > [noun]
wenchelc890
childeOE
littleOE
littlingOE
hired-childc1275
smalla1300
brolla1325
innocentc1325
chickc1330
congeonc1330
impc1380
faunt1382
young onec1384
scionc1390
weea1400
birdc1405
chickenc1440
enfaunta1475
small boyc1475
whelp1483
burden1490
little one1509
brat?a1513
younkerkin1528
kitling1541
urchin1556
loneling1579
breed1586
budling1587
pledge?1587
ragazzo1591
simplicity1592
bantling1593
tadpole1594
two-year-old1594
bratcheta1600
lambkin1600
younker1601
dandling1611
buda1616
eyas-musketa1616
dovelinga1618
whelplinga1618
puppet1623
butter printa1625
chit1625
piggy1625
ninnyc1626
youngster1633
fairya1635
lap-child1655
chitterling1675
squeaker1676
cherub1680
kid1690
wean1692
kinchin1699
getlingc1700
totum17..
charity-child1723
small girl1734
poult1739
elfin1748
piggy-wiggy1766
piccaninny1774
suck-thumb18..
teeny1802
olive1803
sprout1813
stumpie1820
sexennarian1821
totty1822
toddle1825
toddles1828
poppet1830
brancher1833
toad1836
toddler1837
ankle-biter1840
yarkera1842
twopenny1844
weeny1844
tottykins1849
toddlekins1852
brattock1858
nipper1859
sprat1860
ninepins1862
angelet1868
tenas man1870
tad1877
tacker1885
chavvy1886
joey1887
toddleskin1890
thumb-sucker1891
littlie1893
peewee1894
tyke1894
che-ild1896
kiddo1896
mother's bairn1896
childling1903
kipper1905
pick1905
small1907
God forbid1909
preadolescent1909
subadolescent1914
toto1914
snookums1919
tweenie1919
problem child1920
squirt1924
trottie1924
tiddler1927
subteen1929
perisher1935
poopsie1937
pre-schooler1937
pre-teen1938
pre-teener1940
juvie1941
sprog1944
pikkie1945
subteenager1947
pre-teenager1948
pint-size1954
saucepan lid1960
rug rat1964
smallie1984
bosom-child-
1844 M. Howitt My Own Story viii ‘Well, little Twopenny’... I..did not like to be called ‘little Twopenny’.
4. slang. The head. [See quot. 1931.]
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > [noun]
nolleOE
headOE
topa1225
copc1264
scalpa1300
chiefc1330
crownc1330
jowla1400
poll?a1400
testea1400
ball in the hoodc1400
palleta1425
noddle?1507
costard?1515
nab?1536
neck1560
coxcomb1567
sconce1567
now1568
headpiece1579
mazer1581
mazardc1595
cockcomb1602
costrel1604
cranion1611
pasha1616
noddle pate1622
block1635
cranium1647
sallet1652
poundrel1664
nob1699
crany?1730
knowledge box1755
noodle1762
noggin1769
napper1785
garret1796
pimple1811
knowledge-casket1822
coco1828
cobbra1832
coconut1834
top-piece1838
nut1841
barnet1857
twopenny1859
chump1864
topknot1869
conk1870
masthead1884
filbert1886
bonce1889
crumpet1891
dome1891
roof1897
beanc1905
belfry1907
hat rack1907
melon1907
box1908
lemon1923
loaf1925
pound1933
sconec1945
nana1966
1859 in J. C. Hotten Dict. Slang
1889 W. S. Gilbert Gondoliers ii. 34 A Lord High Archbishop might tell a Lord High Chancellor to tuck in his tuppenny, but certainly not a cook.
1906 J. Galsworthy Man of Prop. iii. iv. 321 Fast after him walked George. If the fellow meant to put his ‘twopenny’ under a bus, he would stop it if he could!
1928 C. E. Montague Action 150 ‘Into it, Jemmy’, I yelled. ‘Into the sewer and tuck in your tuppenny.’
1931 ‘G. Orwell’ Hop-picking in Coll. Ess. (1968) I. 71 The hop-pickers..also used the abbreviated rhyming slang, e.g. ‘Use your twopenny’ for ‘Use your head’. This is arrived at like this: head, loaf of bread, loaf, twopenny loaf, twopenny.
Derivatives
twopenny-halfpenny adj. 
/ˌtʌpənɪˈheɪpənɪ/ of the value of twopence-halfpenny; usually figurative as an epithet of disparagement (cf. A. 2 above).
/ˌtʌpənɪˈheɪpənɪ/ of the value of twopence-halfpenny; usually figurative as an epithet of disparagement (cf. A. 2 above).ΘΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > worthless
naughteOE
unworthc960
nought worthOE
unworthya1240
vaina1300
lewd1362
base?1510
to be nothing toc1520
stark naught1528
nothing worth1535
worthilessa1542
draffish1543
baggage1548
dunghill?1555
valureless1563
toyish1572
worthless1573
out (forth) of door (also doors)1574
leaden1577
riff-raff1577
drafty1582
fecklessc1586
dudgeon?1589
nought-worth1589
tenpenny1592
wanwordy?a1595
shotten herring1598
nugatory1603
unvalued1604
priceless1614
unvaluable1615
valuelessa1616
waste1616
trashya1620
draffy1624
stramineous1624
invaluable1640
roly-poly?1645
nugatorious1646
perquisquilian1647
niffling1649
lazy1671
wanworth1724
little wortha1754
flimsy1756
waff1788
null1790
nothingy1801
nothingly1802
twopenny-halfpenny1809
not worth a flaw1810
garbage1817
peanut1836
duffing1839
trash1843
no-account1845
no-count1851
punky1859
rummagy1872
junky1880
skilligalee1883
footle1894
punk1896
wherry-go-nimble1901
junk1908
rinky-dink1913
schlock1916
tripe1927
duff1938
chickenshit1940
sheg-up1941
expendable1942
(strictly) for the birds1943
tripey1955
schlocky1960
naff1964
dipshit1968
cack1978
1809 R. Southey in J. W. Robberds Mem. W. Taylor (1843) II. 268 Some little dirty twopenny-halfpenny piece of roguery.
1828 E. Bulwer-Lytton Pelham II. xii. 106 He..filched a twopenny-halfpenny gilt chain out of..the pawnbroker's window.
1872 H. Kingsley Hornby Mills I. 30 They had lost a law-suit, a twopenny-halfpenny squabble about a trespass.
1916 N.E.D. at Twopenny Mod. A twopenny-halfpenny stamp.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1916; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
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adj.n.1532