ha'p'orth
Pronunciation Noun

ha'p'orth

  1. (British, dated) A halfpennyworth; the amount that can be bought for a halfpenny.
    • 1838, Charles Dickens, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
      ‘Mighty fine certainly,’ said Ralph, with great testiness. ‘When I first went to business, ma’am, I took a penny loaf and a ha’porth of milk for my breakfast as I walked to the city every morning; what do you say to that, ma’am? Breakfast! Bah!’
    • circa 1880, William Makepeace Thackeray, Roundabout Papers
      You rascal thief! it is not merely three-ha’p’orth of sooty fruit you rob me of, it is my peace of mind.
    • 1997, H. W. Fowler, Modern English Usage
      Halfpennyworth is best spelt and pronounced ha’p’orth.
  2. (British, dated) A small amount.
    • 2003, Anton Chekhov, Ward No. 6
      It’s very simple. Not because our people are ignorant and ungrateful, as you always explained it to yourself, but because in all your fads, if you’ll excuse the word, there wasn’t a ha’p’orth of love and kindness!
    • 1887, C. Stansfeld-Hicks, Yachts, Boats and Canoes
      A well-built and handsome boat is worth varnishing, and it would be a pity to “spoil the ship for a ha’p’orth of tar”.
  3. (British slang) A foolish person.
    • 2000, Diary (16 Feb 2000) Frank Dobson (or possibly not) in The Guardian read at [http://www.guardian.co.uk/mayor/Story/0,,190773,00.html#article_continue]
      Mrs Dobson shouted: “Put on your anorak, Frank, you daft ha’p’orth, the maroon one I fetched you for your 60th, or you’ll catch your death.”
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