Where does “便士” come from?

便士 (Chinese) comes from English Pence, from Middle English peny, from Old English penning, from Proto-Germanic panningaz — a coin, penny.

便士 (Chinese): penny

Definitions

  1. penny

Ancestry of “便士”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishPence(the subunit of the pound sterling or Irish pound)
2Middle EnglishpenyA penny or other silver coin including ancient coins
3Old Englishpenningpenny
4Proto-Germanicpanningaza coin, penny
Every word from Proto-Germanic panningaz →Every word from Old English penning →Every word from Middle English peny →