Definition of "farthing" in Anglais

noun

1. (historical, now rare) A quarter of any monetary unit or measure.

2. (historical) Former British unit of currency worth one-quarter of an old penny; or a coin representing this.

   • We must keep them to the fact that the duty is one and three quarter farthings, or nearly a half-penny in the pound and no more, and any one who tries to work it out any other way is not acting fairly in the matter.

3. (figurative) A very small quantity or value; the least possible amount.

   • That period of infatuation was not unrelieved by a certain amount of self-introspection on my part. I kept account of every farthing I spent, and my expenses were carefully calculated. Every little item such as omnibus fares or postage or a couple of coppers spent on newspapers, would be entered, and the balance struck every evening before going to bed. That habit has stayed with me ever since, and I know that as a result, though I have had to handle public funds amounting to lakhs, I have succeeded in exercising strict economy in their disbursement, and instead of outstanding debts have had invariably a surplus balance in respect of all the movements I have led.

4. (obsolete) A division of land.