ENGLISH
REFERENCE

farthing

n.
US //ˈfɑɹðɪŋ// UK //fˈɑːθɪŋ// far·thing Archaic
Origin

From Middle English ferthing, from Old English fēorþing, fēorþung (“a quarter, fourth part, farthing”), from fēorþa (“fourth”), from Proto-Germanic *fedurþungaz (“a quarter”), probably influenced by Old Norse fjórðungr (“a fourth part, quarter”). Equivalent to fourth + -ing; compare English riding (“third part”).

Idioms2 entries

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