(plural:halfpennies) puhekieltä A discontinued British coin worth half of one penny (old or new).
Christmas is coming (traditional carol)
If you haven't got a penny, / A 'hapenny' will do, / If you havent got a 'hapenny''', / Then God bless you.
(plural:halfpence) A quantity of money worth half a penny.
1599, William Shakespeare, As You Like It (act III, scene 2)
There were none principal; they were all like one another as halfpence are; every one fault seeming monstrous till his fellow fault came to match it.
1848, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair
"If a pound of mutton-candles cost sevenpence-halfpenny, how much must Dobbin cost?"
Costing or worth one halfpenny.
1594, William Shakespeare, King Henry VI, Part 2 (act IV, scene 2)
There shall be in England seven halfpenny loaves sold for a penny; the three-hooped pot shall have ten hoops; and I will make it felony to drink small beer.