or peni-father, subs. phr. (old).—A miser; a niggard.

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  1551.  MORE, Utopia, II. vi. And yet knowing them to be such niggish PENY-FATHERS, that … as long as they live, not the worth of one farthing of that heap of gold shall come to them.

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  1594.  DRAYTON, Idea, x. 1262.

        To nothing fitter can I thee compare,
Than to the son of some rich PENNY-FATHER.

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  1598.  FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Ghiarone, old gold laide vp by mizers,… or PENNIE-FATHERS.

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  1607.  E. TOPSELL, Four-footed Beasts, 262. The great men, the rich mysers and PENNY-FATHERS.

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  d. 1612.  HARINGTON, Epigrams, ii. 21.

        Alas, this re-confirmes what I said rather:
Cosmus hath euer beene a PENNY-FATHER.

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  d. 1627.  MIDDLETON, Father Hubburd’s Tales [Century]. Illiterate hinds, rude boors, and hoary PENNY-FATHERS.

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  1629.  Pasquil’s Jests [HALLIWELL]. Hee (good old PENNY-FATHER) was glad of his liquor, and beganne to drinke againe.

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  d. 1693.  J. MORGAN, Phœnix Britannicus, 33.

        Ranck PENNY-FATHERS scud, with their halfe hammes
Shadowing their calves, to save their silver dammes.

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