/hay"peuh nee, hayp"nee/ , n. , pl. halfpennies for 1; halfpence /hay"peuhns/ for 2; adj.
n.
1. a bronze coin of the United Kingdom, equal to half a penny: use phased out in 1984.
2. the sum of half a penny.
adj.
3. of the price or value of a halfpenny.
4. of little value; worthless: a halfpenny matter.
5. Brit. Informal. (of newspapers) sensational, esp. morbidly or offensively so.
[ 1225-75; ME halfpeny, halpeny. See HALF, PENNY ]