Obs. [f. EARNEST sb.2 + PENNY.] A small sum of money (prob. orig. a literal penny) paid as earnest to secure a bargain; cf. bargain-penny, fastening-penny.
1508. Nottingham Borough Rec. MS. 1383. 10. Recepit … unum denarium argenti ut pro an ernest peny.
1552. Huloet, Bynde wyth an earnest penye, obæro.
1562. Eden, Lett., in 1st Eng. Bks. Amer. (Arb.), Pref. 43/2. Xxli thereof to be lotted to me for an earnest penye to begynne the booke.
1619. W. Cowper, Heaven Opened, 269. It is customable to men to giue an earnest penny in buying and selling.
1760. Mair, Tyro’s Dict. (ed. 9), 10. Arrha, an earnest-penny.
b. fig. (In 16th and 17th c. freq. in religious use.)
1533. Tindale, Souper of Lorde, A i b. That assuered sauuyng helthe and ernest peny of euerlasting lyfe.
a. 1566. R. Edwards, Damon & Pithias (1571), E ij b. Then for an earnest penie, take this blow.
1579. Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 927/2. Ye spirite of God … is the earnest peny of our adoption.
1662. J. Chandler, Van Helmont’s Oriat., 281. I offered them an earnest-penny, to take me along with them as a companion and witnesse.
1676. Wycherley, Pl. Dealer, IV. ii. (1677), 57. Presents from me … the earnest Pence for our Love bargain.
