U.S. [short for fippenny bit.] (See quot. 1860.)
1860. Bartlett, Dictionary of Americanisms, Fippenny Bit, or contracted, Fip. Fivepence. In Pennsylvania, and several of the Southern States, the vulgar name for the Spanish half-real.
1876. T. Hill, True Order Studies (1878), 49. Vulgar fractions must always be retained; and for the next fifty years we shall need English tables of weights and measures; after that it is to be hoped that they will drop into disuse, as the shillings, ninepences, fourpence-halfpennies, fips and elevenpenny bits of fifty years ago have given place to dollars and cents.
Hence Fipsworth, as much as may be bought or sold for a ‘fip.’
1844. Maury, Lett. to A. Maury, 23 June, in Corbin, Life (1888), 48. If nonsense will sell at all, I am sure you have here three fipsworth of it.
