| farthing | n. [ OE. furthing, AS. feórðung, fr. feórða fourth, feór, feówer, four. See Four. ] 1. The fourth of a penny; a small copper coin of Great Britain, being a cent in United States currency. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. A very small quantity or value. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] In her cup was no farthing seen of grease. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. A division of land. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] Thirty acres make a farthing land; nine farthings a Cornish acre; and four Cornish acres a knight's fee. R. Carew. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Farthingale | n. [ OE. vardingale, fardingale, fr. OF. vertugale, verdugade, F. vertugade, vertugadin, from Sp. verdugado, being named from its hoops, fr. verdugo a young shoot of tree, fr. verde green, fr. L. viridis. See Verdant. ] A hoop skirt or hoop petticoat, or other light, elastic material, used to extend the petticoat. [ 1913 Webster ] We'll revel it as bravely as the best, . . . With ruffs and cuffs, and farthingales and things. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] |