ha'p'orth

English

Alternative forms

'aporth, ha'porth, hap'orth, halfp'orth

Etymology

Abbreviation of halfpennyworth.

Pronunciation

(UK) IPA^(key): /ˈheɪpə(ɹ)θ/, (dialectally) /ˈeɪpə(ɹ)θ/
Audio (UK): (file)

Noun

ha'p'orth (plural ha'p'orth or ha'p'orths) (UK, Ireland, dated)

A halfpennyworth; the amount that can be bought for a halfpenny.
- 1729, Jonathan Swift, A Pastoral Dialogue, written after the News of the King’s Death:
  At an old stubborn Root I chanc’d to tug,
  When the Dean threw me this Tobacco-plug:
  A longer ha’p’orth never did I see;
  This, dearest Sheelah, thou shalt share with me.
- 1838, Charles Dickens, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby:
  ‘Mighty fine certainly,’ said Ralph, with great testiness. ‘When I first went to business, ma’am, I took a penny loaf and a ha’porth of milk for my breakfast as I walked to the city every morning; what do you say to that, ma’am? Breakfast! Bah!’
- circa 1880, William Makepeace Thackeray, Roundabout Papers
  You rascal thief! it is not merely three-ha’p’orth of sooty fruit you rob me of, it is my peace of mind.
- 1997, H. W. Fowler, Modern English Usage:
  Halfpennyworth is best spelt and pronounced ha’p’orth.
(informal) A small amount.
- 2003, Anton Chekhov, Ward No. 6:
  It’s very simple. Not because our people are ignorant and ungrateful, as you always explained it to yourself, but because in all your fads, if you’ll excuse the word, there wasn’t a ha’p’orth of love and kindness!
- 1887, C. Stansfeld-Hicks, Yachts, Boats and Canoes:
  A well-built and handsome boat is worth varnishing, and it would be a pity to “spoil the ship for a ha’p’orth of tar”.
(slang) A foolish person.
- 1973, “Happy Birthday Arkwright”, in Open All Hours (Season 4) (TV script):
  Not that, you ha'p'orth.
- 2000, Diary (16 Feb 2000) Frank Dobson (or possibly not) in The Guardian read at [1]
  Mrs Dobson shouted: “Put on your anorak, Frank, you daft ha’p’orth, the maroon one I fetched you for your 60th, or you’ll catch your death.”
- 2011, Barbara Nadel, Sure and Certain Death, →ISBN:
  'Oh well,' Mrs Darling said as she looked at the scene unfolding on the doorstep, 'at least the silly ha'p'orth didn't go to the wrong place.'

Usage notes

Use in the colloquial British sense of “a foolish person” is usually modified with an adjective such as daft or silly.

Derived terms

spoil the ship for a ha'p'orth of tar

Related terms