bawbee

bawbee

English

Etymology

From Scots bawbee.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /bɔːˈbiː/

Noun

bawbee (plural bawbees)

1. (Scotland, historical) A coin originally worth six pennies Scots, and later three; held equivalent to an English halfpenny.
2. (figuratively) A copper; a small amount of money.
   • 2007, Simon Hoggart, The Guardian, 12 Jul 2007:

     He said there were already plans for a tramline, and a museum of the theatre. Folk should not, he implied, waste their bawbees on the devil's spinning wheel.

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Scots

Etymology

Probably shortened from Sillebawbe, the territorial designation of Alexander Orrok, Scottish master of the mint in the 16th century.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bɑːˈbiː/

Noun

bawbee (plural bawbees)

1. (historical) bawbee, halfpenny
   • 1823, Walter Scott, St. Ronan's Well:

     ‘And muckle they hae made o't—the bankrupt body, Sandie Lawson, hasna paid them a bawbee of four terms' rent.’

2. money
3. dowry
   • 1803, Alexander Boswell, ‘Jenny's Bawbee’:

     A' clatty, squinting through a glass, / He girn'd, ‘I'faith a bonnie lass!’ / He thought to win, wi' front o' brass, / Jenny's bawbee.