/siks"peuhns/ , n. , pl. sixpence, sixpences for 2.
1. ( used with a sing. or pl. v. ) Brit. a sum of six pennies.
2. ( used with a sing. v. ) a cupronickel coin of the United Kingdom, the half of a shilling, formerly equal to six pennies: equal to two and one-half new pence after decimalization in 1971.
[ 1350-1400; ME sexe pans. See SIX, PENCE ]