threepence

threepence

English

Etymology

three +‎ pence

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈθɹʌpəns/, /ˈθɹɪpəns/, /ˈθɹɛpəns/
  • (UK)

    (file)

• (US, also) IPA^(key): /ˈθɹiːpɛns/
  • (US)

    (file)

• thrĭpʹəns, thrĕpʹəns, thrŭpʹəns

Noun

threepence (countable and uncountable, plural threepences)

A Series 1942 Threepence from Australia.

1. (uncountable) The amount of money equal to that of three pence (old or new).
   • 2009, Jennifer Worth, Farewell to the East End, Weidenfeld & Nicholson, page 112:

     ‘Can you let me have threepence for an urgent telephone call?’

2. (countable, historical) A former (pre-decimalisation) British or Irish coin worth three old pence.

   Synonyms: threepenny bit, thruppence

Related terms

• twopence, tuppence
• fourpence
• fivepence
• sixpence
• eightpence
• tenpence