Definition

1. Noun:
   • A former British bronze coin worth a quarter of a penny: A small, low-value coin that was part of the British currency system until it was demonetized in 1961.

Usage

• The word "farthing" is used to refer specifically to this obsolete coin. It is often used in historical contexts or in expressions to denote something of very little value.

Examples

• Noun:
  • In old Britain, you could buy a small piece of candy for a farthing.
  • The price has not increased by a single farthing in decades.
  • He searched his pockets but couldn't find a farthing.

Advanced Usage

• "Not worth a farthing": Completely worthless.
  • His promise turned out not to be worth a farthing.
• "Not care/give a brass farthing": To not care at all.
  • I don't care a brass farthing about their opinion.
• "To the last farthing": Paying every last bit of a debt or amount owed.
  • He insisted on repaying the loan to the last farthing.

Variants and Related Words

• Brass farthing (noun phrase): Used for emphasis in negative statements to mean the smallest possible amount of money or concern.
  • It's not worth a brass farthing.

Synonyms

• Mite: A very small sum of money.
• Trifle: Something of little value or importance.

Related Idioms

• "Not have a farthing to one's name": To be completely penniless.
  • After the business failed, he didn't have a farthing to his name.

Noun

1. a former British bronze coin worth a quarter of a penny