A small amount or quantity of something worth a half-penny; something of minimal value.
From 'halfpenny' (English coin worth half a penny) + 'worth' (value). This reflects the tiny purchasing power of the halfpenny in medieval and early modern England.
A 'halfpennyworth' of goods was literally the smallest transaction worth making—imagine saving up for weeks to afford it, which is why the phrase came to mean something absolutely trivial!
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