a former cupronickel coin of the United Kingdom, a quarter of a shilling, equal to three pennies: use phased out after decimalization in 1971
Also: thrippence, thruppence
Word origin
[1580–90; three + pence]This word is first recorded in the period 1580–90. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: category, cockpit, piggyback, reference, stigma
Examples of 'threepence' in a sentence
threepence
Diving exhibitions were popular; people paid threepence to watch them.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The concept was the same - with all goods priced at threepence or sixpence.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
All the great performers in sport would play for threepence a day.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This was because the old brass threepence, of blessed memory, had 12 sides.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Then there were the prices, threepence for one and a ha'penny for the other.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The obligation to pay threepence a week towards her maid's 'stamp' was, she said, tyranny.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
With the princely sum of threepence at stake, no lemonade bottle ever found its way into our dustbin.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He was a coal-hewer and was paid one shilling and threepence for each ton he dug out.