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tuppence

tuppence

5 9.9
An old British coin worth two pennies or a very small amount of money
  • noun
  • /ˈtʌpəns/
  • Archaic
translation icon : tuppence
  • You can buy a cup of coffee for just tuppence these days.
  • tuppence a bag
  • give you tuppence
  • get tuppence

That's a classic Italian name Twins called tuppence, as in the old British coin and honesty.

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Examples

  • You'll get a tuppence for them.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • And at only tuppence a pint, you can't really grumble.

  • I wanted to add my tuppence worth.

    Blog text (9)
  • No more than a tuppence apiece?

  • I had to give tuppence to the urchin who brought it.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • You can see all of Bedlam without paying your tuppence.

  • Tuppence a day, and only a 10.5-hour day at that!

    Blog text (16)
  • Tuppence a bag!

  • Here’s a tuppence, if that’s any use to you.

  • The old statue was worth no more than a few tuppence to collectors.

Synonyms

spare change
vstuppence
14 1.0

Small coins or money you do not need and carry with you

focuses on tiny value rather than coins carried or leftover money
small change
vstuppence
10 2.3

A small amount of money in coins that is not worth much

adds the sense of a specific former coin in British currency
chump change
vstuppence
  • Informal
8 8.2

A very small amount of money that hardly matters next to bigger costs

is similar but also refers to an actual old coin worth two pennies
pocket change
vstuppence
8 2.5

A small amount of money, usually coins, kept for minor expenses

is used to mean a tiny amount in value rather than pocket coins
farthing
vstuppence
  • Archaic
5 9.9

A British coin from the past worth a quarter of a penny, also meaning a very small amount

is larger in original value, being worth two pennies rather than a quarter penny
dime's worth
vstuppence
  • Informal
2 8.1

A very small, unimportant amount

is also a named old coin and so can mean a concrete two penny value
stiver
vstuppence
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A small old coin from the Netherlands worth very little money

is specifically a British coin worth two pennies or a tiny amount
sou
vstuppence
  • Archaic
1 9.9

An old French coin or a very small amount of money

is more specifically British and denotes two pennies among other meanings
twopence
vstuppence
  • Archaic
1 9.1

A small British coin worth two pennies

also has the general meaning of a very small amount rather than only the coin
pice
vstuppence
  • Archaic
9.9

A very small amount of money that has little value

is tied to a named British coin as well as small value
doit
vstuppence
  • Archaic
9.9

A very small coin from long ago in Scotland and the Netherlands

is British and uniquely denotes a coin worth two pennies as well
halfpennyworth
vstuppence
  • Archaic
9.9

A very small amount of something you can buy for half a penny

is worth two pennies and so represents a larger old coin value
ha'p'orth
vstuppence
  • Archaic
9.9

A very small amount, like a little food or money

denotes a higher old coin value equal to two pennies
penn'orth
vstuppence
  • Archaic
9.9

A small amount you can buy for one penny

is defined by a coin value twice that small amount

Antonyms

453 2.8

A very large amount of money

Compounds

tuppence worth
  • Archaic
9.9

A small opinion someone gives, often when not asked

How Much

pound
  • UK
220 1.0
shilling
  • Archaic
35 9.9
sixpence
  • Archaic
6 9.9
tuppence
  • Archaic
5 9.9
penny
513 1.0

Surface Forms

tuppence singular
tuppences plural

Morphology

tuppence = two + pence (transparent) = two + pence

The word is a straightforward compound meaning 'two pence' (colloquial variant of 'twopence'), so the meaning follows directly from its parts.

Etymology

Tuppence comes from the old spoken joining of two and pence, literally 'two pennies', and it named a small British coin. That's why saying something is not worth tuppence means it is a 'very small or unimportant amount of money'.