a. (sb.) Now rare.
1. Of the value of, or amounting to, twelvepence. † Twelvepenny piece, a shilling (obs.).
1594. Blundevil, Exerc., I. vii. (1636), 21. 7 twelue-penny peeces of silver.
1710. Addison, Tatler, No. 249, ¶ 1. The Adventures that this Twelvepenny-Piece has been engaged in.
1712. Prideaux, Direct. Ch.-wardens (ed. 4), 99. Done for the base Lucre of a Six-penny or Twelve-penny Fee.
2. Costing or priced at twelvepence; for or in connection with which a shilling is paid or payable.
1609. Dekker, Gvlls Horne-bk., Proœm B j b. When at a new play you take vp the twelue-penny roome, next the stage.
1609. B. Jonson, Sil. Wom., II. v. At the tweluepeny ordinary.
1678. Dryden, All for Love, Pref. b iv. This Rhyming Judge of the Twelve-penny Gallery.
1712. Lond. Gaz., No. 4988/3. The Twelvepeny Stamps prescrib’d by Law for Ale-house-Licenses.
1726. Swift, Gulliver, II. iii. A bit of bread … as big as two twelve-penny loaves.
1728. Morgan, Algiers, I. Pref. 15. A twelve-penny Pamphlet would contain full as much.
1814. Shirreff, Agric. Shetl. Isl., 21. Rent is paid by the merk of land,… an indefinite quantity … of ground; merks being divided into different classes, such as sixpenny, ninepenny, and twelvepenny merks.
3. That may be hired for twelvepence; paying, or receiving, twelvepence.
1614. B. Jonson, Bart. Fair, V. vi. Thou Esquire of Dames, Madams and twelue-penny Ladies.
1620. Melton, Astrolog., 31. The twelve-penny Hirelings make artificiall Lightning.
1683. Bunyan, Greatn. Soul, Wks. 1853, I. 132. More vigilant in dealing with a twelvepenny customer than they will be with Christ.
1707. Lond. Gaz., No. 4296/3. The Out-Pensioners (commonly called the Twelve-Penny Pensioners).
4. fig. Of small value, paltry, insignificant.
1603. in Fuller, Ch. Hist. (1655), X. i. § 24, ad fin. That men be not excommunicated for trifles, and twelve-peny matters.
B. sb. Sc. (in form twalpenny). A twelvepenny piece, a shilling (Scots): see SHILLING 1 b. Hence twalpenny worth = twelve pennyworth.
1786. Burns, Twa Dogs, 115. An’ whyles twalpennie worth o’ nappy Can mak the bodies unco happy.
1816. Scott, Antiq., Advt. Perhaps a Scottish ‘twalpenny,’ or English penny, which was expended in snuff or whisky.
