Where does “penniless” come from?
Penniless derives from Middle English penyles, meaning without pennies or money.
penniless (English): Lacking even the smallest amount of money
Definitions
- Lacking even the smallest amount of money
Ancestry of “penniless”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | penyles | — |
| 2 | Middle English | penny | — |
Words derived from “penniless”