halpeni

Middle English

Alternative forms

• halfpeni, halfpani, alfpeni, halpenie, halpenei, halpani, alpeni, hapeni, helpeni
• Plural:
  • (without loss of final vowel, whence modern halfpennies) halpenis, halpenes, halfpenies, halpeniges
  • (with loss of final vowel, whence modern halfpence) halpens, halpans, halpons, alpens, halfpens

Etymology

From Late Old English halpenige, equivalent to half +‎ peny (“penny”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhalpɛniː/

Noun

halpeni (plural halpenis)

1. a halfpenny (often given in charity)
2. (biblical, Goddes halpenī) a coin from biblical times, a small foreign coin
3. (nautical, galeie halpenī) a small foreign coin
4. (halpenī of gold) an English gold coin worth five shillings, equivalent to a crown
5. (used in compounds, attributive) costing a halfpenny, weighing as much as halfpenny

Descendants

• English: halfpenny, ha'penny
• Scots: halfpenny
• Yola: haapney

References

• “hal-penī, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.