E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Penny (in the sense of pound).
Sixpenny, eightpenny, and tenpenny nails are nails of three sizes. A thousand of the first will weigh six pounds; of the second, eight pounds; of the third, ten pounds.
1
Penny sometimes expresses the duodecimal part, as tenpenny and elevenpenny silver—meaning silver 10–12ths and 11–12ths fine.
2
“One was to he tenpenny, another eleven, another sterling silver.”—Weidenfeld: Secrets of the Adepts.
