subs. (old).—A familiar address: in commendation, but sometimes loosely used (cf. CASAUBON, De Quatuor Linguis Commentatio, pars prior [1650], p. 362; TRUEPENIE is defined as ‘veterator vafer,’ that is, a sly, cunning fellow, an old soldier): also (as in ‘old boy’) OLD TRUEPENNY.
1596. SHAKESPEARE, Hamlet, i. 5. 150.
| Ham. Ah, ha, boy! say’st thou so? art thou there, TRUEPENNY? | |
| Come on. |
1604. MARSTON, The Malcontent [OLD TRUEPENNY].
1618. FLETCHER, The Loyal Subject, i. 3.
| Puts. Go, go thy ways, OLD TRUE-PENNY! thou hast but one fault; | |
| Thou art even too valiant. |
1830. R. FORBY, The Vocabulary of East Anglia, s.v. TRUE-PENNY, s. ‘Generally ‘OLD-TRUE-PENNY,’ as it occurs in SH. Hamlet, where the application of it to the ghost is unseemly and incongruous, yet it has attracted no notice from any commentator. Its present meaning is, hearty old fellow; staunch and trusty; true to his purpose or pledge’ (FORBY). This appears more to the purpose than the information given by Mr. Collier, ‘it is a mining term, and signifies a particular indication in the soil of the direction in which ore is to be found.’
