halfpenny

[hey-puh-nee, heyp-nee] /ˈheɪ pə ni, ˈheɪp ni/
noun, plural halfpennies for 1; halfpence
[hey-puh ns] /ˈheɪ pəns/ (Show IPA), for 2.
1.
a bronze coin of the United Kingdom, equal to half a penny: use phased out in 1984.
2.
the sum of half a penny.
adjective
3.
of the price or value of a halfpenny.
4.
of little value; worthless:
a halfpenny matter.
5.
British Informal. (of newspapers) sensational, especially morbidly or offensively so.
Origin
1225-75; Middle English halfpeny, halpeny. See half, penny
British Dictionary definitions for halfpenny

halfpenny

/ˈheɪpnɪ; for sense 1 ˈhɑːfˌpɛnɪ/
noun
1.
Also called half, (pl) -pennies. a small British coin worth half a new penny, withdrawn from circulation in 1985
2.
(pl) -pennies. an old British coin worth half an old penny
3.
(pl) -pence. the sum represented by half a penny
4.
(pl) -pence. something of negligible value
5.
(modifier) having the value or price of a halfpenny
6.
(modifier) of negligible value
Word Origin and History for halfpenny
n.

mid-13c. (though implied in Old English healfpenigwurð "halfpenny-worth"); see half + penny.