penny etymology

Etymology:

  • The word "penny" originates from the Old English word "penig," which is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*peningaz."

Meaning:

  • A small coin with a low value, typically made of copper or bronze.

Origin:

1. Roman Denarius (c. 8th century CE):

  • The Proto-Germanic word "*peningaz" is believed to have been influenced by the Roman silver coin called the denarius, which was widely circulated in northern Europe.

2. Anglo-Saxon Period (c. 7th century CE):

  • The Anglo-Saxons adopted the denarius and started minting their own silver coins, which they called "penningas." These coins were smaller and lighter than the denarius.

3. Viking Age (c. 8th-11th century CE):

  • The Vikings also used the term "penning" for their coins. Their coins were often made of silver or copper and could vary in size and weight.

4. Medieval England (c. 11th-15th century CE):

  • After the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, the term "penny" was used to refer to a specific English coin worth one-twelfth of a shilling. This penny was made of silver and was the primary unit of currency for everyday transactions.

5. Decimalization (1971):

  • In 1971, the United Kingdom decimalized its currency, replacing the old pound sterling system with a new decimal system based on the pound (100 pence). The penny retained its value as one-hundredth of a pound.

Today, the penny remains the smallest unit of currency in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

penny relate terms

  • cent

    Etymology The word cent is derived from the Latin word centum meaning hundred Me

  • hundred

    Etymology The word hundred comes from the Old English word hundrēd meaning group

  • percent

    Etymology Origin Latin per centum meaning by the hundred Origin French pour c

  • dime

    Etymology From the Latin phrase dime mediae notae meaning half of a nota Nota i

  • pence

    Etymology The word pence comes from the Latin denarius which referred to a silver co

  • penny

    Etymology The word penny originates from the Old English word penig which is deriv

  • dice

    Etymology Origin of the Word The word dice comes from the Old French word dez whi

  • deuce

    Etymology The word deuce has several possible etymologies From the Latin word dos

  • hence

    Etymology Origin Late Middle English as hence 1 from Middle French hence from her

  • farthing

    Etymology Middle English ferthyng ferthing Old English feorðing Old Saxon fiorðun

  • upright

    Etymology The word upright is derived from two Old English words Up Meaning towar

  • sterling

    Etymology The word sterling has its origins in the Old English word steorra meaning

  • pretty

    Etymology Old English prættig Middle English prettie Meaning Physically attra

  • quarter

    Etymology The word quarter has several etymological roots Latin quartus meaning

  • nostalgia

    Etymology The word nostalgia originates from two Greek words Nostos νόστος

  • pound

    Etymology The word pound comes from the Old English pund or pundt which itself

  • quid

    Etymology The word quid has several possible etymologies Late Latin From quid me

  • icon

    Etymology The word icon comes from the Greek word εἰκών eikōn which means