Plural of farthing; small English coins worth one quarter of a penny, once commonly used in everyday transactions.
From Old English 'feorthing,' literally meaning 'one-fourth,' from 'feortha' (fourth). The coin was created as a practical way to make small change in medieval England.
Farthings were so important to ordinary medieval people that Charles Dickens based entire poverty scenes on them—'not worth a farthing' was the ultimate insult to your value.
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