subs. (American).—Formerly the Spanish half-real in Florida, Louisiana, &c.: now a five-cent piece or any small coin. Also (generic) money; RHINO (q.v.). Whence PICAYUNE (or PICAYUNISH) = small; mean; of little value. [Cf. Title of a famous journal, The New Orleans Picayune (the price of which is five cents).]
c. 1848. New York Herald [BARTLETT]. There is nothing PICAYUNE about the members of St. George’s Club; for the love of sport they will … enter upon matches that other clubs would not accept.
18[?]. The Writer [Century], III. 112. If only two cents are required, you will have prevented a PICAYUNE waste.
