[pen.ny] n, pl pennies or pence often attrib [ME, fr. OE penning, penig; akin to OHG pfenning, a coin] (bef. 12c) 1 a: a monetary unit of the United Kingdom formerly equal to 1/240 pound but now equal to 1/100 pound b: a similar monetary unit of any of various other countries in or formerly in the Commonwealth: as (1): a monetary unit of Malta equal to 1/100 lira (2): a monetary unit of Ireland equal to 1/100 pound c: a coin representing one penny
2: denarius 3 pl pennies: cent
4: a trivial amount
5: a piece or sum of money "that will cost a pretty ~"