Advertisement

Advertisement

eightpenny

[ eyt-pen-ee ]

adjective

  1. noting a nail 2½ inches (6.4 centimeters) long.
  2. costing or amounting to the sum of eight pennies. : 8d


Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of eightpenny1

First recorded in 1490–1500; eight + penny ( def 6 ) (so called because originally one paid eight British pennies for a hundred nails; the term later referred to the size of the nail)

Discover More

Example Sentences

From John Blane, during the same year, he purchased 2500 tenpenny nails and the same quantity of eightpenny nails.

It is rumoured that the former is in treaty with the latter for a pair of left-off six-and-eightpenny Clarences.

Eightpenny finishing nails are the best, three in each board, the heads being driven in to admit of puttying.

The large fivepenny, sixpenny, eightpenny, and shilling often had unusually wide margins when perforated.

Mrs Margaret looked wistfully at the fourteen-shilling crimson, and then manfully chose the six-and-eightpenny green.

Advertisement

Word of the Day

gallimaufry

[gal-uh-maw-free ]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


eightietheights