subs. (old).—1. Beer; sold at 2d. a quart: cf. FOURPENNY, etc.
1771. SMOLLETT, The Expedition of Humphry Clinker, ii. 69. When the Lowlanders want to drink a chearupping cup, they go to the public-house called the change-house, and call for a chopin of TWOPENNY, which is a thin yeasty beverage made of malt, not quite so strong as the table-beer of England.
1834. SOUTHEY, The Doctor, cxlii. There are many things in these kingdoms which are greatly undervalued; strong beer for example in the cider countries, and cider in the countries of good strong beer; bottled TWOPENNY in South Britain, sprats and herrings by the rich.
1884. S. DOWELL, A History of Taxation and Taxes in England, iv. 122. [Pale ale] was principally consumed by the gentry; the victualler sold it at 4d. the quart, under the name of TWOPENNY.
2. (common).—The head: also TUPPENNY. ‘Tuck in your TUPPENNY’ = (1) an injunction to ‘make a back’ at leap-frog; and (2) to desist.
c. 1888. Music Hall Song, ‘The Lord Mayor’s Coachman.’
| ‘Why, you’re going into Newgate Street,’ the Lord Mayor bawls, | |
| But John said ‘TUCK YOUR TWOPENNY IN—I’m going around St. Paul’s.’ |
3. (London).—An intermediary between pawnbroker and client; a professional pawner: the usual fee being twopence.
Adj. (old).—Mean; of little value: as only costing TWOPENCE: also (modern) TWOPENNY-HALFPENNY.
c. 1485. Paston Letters, 144. [A grave-cloth] not worth 11d.
1872. G. ELIOT, Middlemarch, I. iii. He thinks a whole world of which my thought is but a poor TWOPENNY mirror.
1884. Pall Mall Gazette, 17 July. The moderate TWOPENNY-HALFPENNY Redistribution Bill which Mr. Gladstone intends to introduce.
