# farthing

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈfɑː(ɹ).ðɪŋ/ · frequency rank #45,922

## Definitions
1. A quarter of any monetary unit or measure.
2. Former British unit of currency worth one-quarter of an old penny; or a coin representing this.
3. A very small quantity or value; the least possible amount.
4. A division of land.

## Etymology
From Middle English ferthing, from Old English fēorþing, fēorþung (“a quarter, fourth part, farthing”), from fēorþa (“fourth”), from Proto-Germanic *fedurþungaz (“a quarter”), probably influenced by Old Norse fjórðungr (“a fourth part, quarter”). Equivalent to fourth + -ing; compare English riding (“third part”).

## Easily confused with
- **fasting** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/farthing-vs-fasting)
- **farting** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/farthing-vs-farting)
- **faring** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/faring-vs-farthing)
- **farming** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/farming-vs-farthing)

## Common misspellings (13)
`afrthing`, `farhting`, `farrthing`, `farthhing`, `farthign`, `farthingg`, `farthinng`, `farthnig`, `fartihng`, `fartthing`, `fatrhing`, `ffarthing`, `frathing`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/farthing