stiver
Definition
- Noun:
- A small coin of low value: Historically, a "stiver" referred to a small silver or copper coin used in the Netherlands and some other European countries, worth a very small amount of money.
- A trivial or negligible sum of money: By extension, "stiver" is used to indicate an insignificant amount of money, often in negative constructions to emphasize poverty or worthlessness.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- He has not a stiver to his name. (He is completely penniless.)
- That old hat is not worth a stiver. (The hat is of no value whatsoever.)
- I don't care a stiver about their opinion. (I do not care at all about their opinion.)
Advanced Usage
"not a stiver": Used to mean "not a single coin" or "no money at all."
- After paying the rent, he had not a stiver left. (He had absolutely no money remaining.)
"not worth a stiver": Means something is completely worthless.
- His promise is not worth a stiver. (His promise is utterly unreliable.)
Variants and Related Words
- Stiver (n): The word itself is a variant of the Dutch "stuiver," a coin worth one-twentieth of a guilder. No common derived forms exist in modern English.
Synonyms
- Farthing: A former British coin of small value.
- Penny: A small unit of currency.
- Dime: A small coin (especially in U.S. currency).
- Trifle: A thing of little value or importance.
Related Idioms
Not a red cent: To have no money at all.
- He didn't pay me a red cent for the work. (He paid me nothing.)
Not a brass farthing: Equivalent to "not a stiver," meaning no money.
- She wouldn't give a brass farthing for his advice. (She values his advice as worthless.)
Phrasal Verbs
- None directly associated with "stiver," as it is a noun only.