/thrip"euhns, threp"-, thrup"-; three"pens'/ , n.
1. ( used with a sing. or pl. v. ) Brit. a sum of three pennies.
2. a former cupronickel coin of the United Kingdom, a quarter of a shilling, equal to three pennies: use phased out after decimalization in 1971.
Also, thrippence, thruppence .
[ 1580-90; THREE + PENCE ]