threepence
threepence Lexical Profile
threepence Game Scores & Validity
• noun
British A sum of money equal to three pence in the British currency system.
"In the nineteenth century, a loaf of bread and a cup of tea could be bought for just threepence."
British A former British coin worth three old pence (one-eightieth of a pound sterling), used prior to decimalization in 1971.
"My grandfather kept a brass twelve-sided threepence in his pocket watch case for good luck."
Word Nuance & Usage
Traditionally pronounced 'thrip-uhns' or 'thrup-uhns' rather than spelling-based 'three-pens', it takes a singular verb when referring to a monetary sum and a plural verb when referring to individual coins.
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in Middle English as a compound of 'three' and 'pence' (the collective plural of 'penny'), reflecting the pre-decimal British monetary system.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.