halpeni

Middle English

Alternative forms

halfpeni, halfpani, alfpeni, halpenie, halpenei, halpani, alpeni, hapeni, helpeni
Plural:
- (without loss of final vowel, whence modern halfpennies) halpenis, halpenes, halfpenies, halpeniges
- (with loss of final vowel, whence modern halfpence) halpens, halpans, halpons, alpens, halfpens

Etymology

From Late Old English halpenige, equivalent to half +‎ peny (“penny”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈhalpɛniː/

Noun

halpeni (plural halpenis)

a halfpenny (often given in charity)
(biblical, Goddes halpenī) a coin from biblical times, a small foreign coin
(nautical, galeie halpenī) a small foreign coin
(halpenī of gold) an English gold coin worth five shillings, equivalent to a crown
(used in compounds, attributive) costing a halfpenny, weighing as much as halfpenny

Descendants

English: halfpenny, ha'penny
Yola: haapney

References

“hal-penī, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

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