Word
farthing
Phoneticsfar·thing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfɑɹðɪŋ/
UK/fˈɑːθɪŋ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a small old British coin worth one quarter of an old penny. People stopped using it in 1960.
n. a former British bronze coin valued at one quarter of an old penny, withdrawn from circulation in 1960.
Examples
“The old farthing sits in my coin collection.”
“The museum displays a farthing from 1948 alongside other pre-decimal coins.”
“He would not give a farthing for their promises, having learned that grand assurances often cost the speaker nothing.”
Examples
simple
“The old farthing sits in my coin collection.”
contextual
“The museum displays a farthing from 1948 alongside other pre-decimal coins.”
complex
“He would not give a farthing for their promises, having learned that grand assurances often cost the speaker nothing.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “farthing” in context.
Verb
01. farthing buys
“In 1900, a farthing bought a small loaf of bread.”
noun + verb
02. farthing ceases
“The farthing ceased to be legal tender in 1960.”
noun + verb
03. farthing circulates
“The farthing circulated widely throughout Victorian Britain.”
noun + verb
04. give farthing
“He would not give a farthing for their opinions on art.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. brass farthing
“His promise was not worth a brass farthing to the workers.”
adj + noun
06. bronze farthing
“The museum displays a worn bronze farthing from 1897.”
adj + noun
07. old farthing
“She found an old farthing tucked inside her grandmother's purse.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. bag of farthings
“The collector keeps a small bag of farthings from the 1950s.”
noun + prep + noun
09. farthing coin
“This rare farthing coin features the image of a wren.”
noun + noun
10. handful of farthings
“He emptied a handful of farthings onto the counter to pay.”
noun + prep + noun
11. not give a single farthing
“She would not give a single farthing to the scammers.”
12. not worth a brass farthing
“His apology was not worth a brass farthing to her.”
Etymology
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”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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