penny

Penny is a term used for small units of currency in several countries and a common given name. In the United Kingdom, a penny is 1/100 of a pound sterling. In the United States, the informal term penny refers to the one-cent coin, which is legally a cent and equals 1/100 of a dollar. The US cent has been minted since the 18th century and is widely recognized, with designs such as the Lincoln cent introduced in 1909. Other currencies also have coins commonly called pennies in everyday speech.

The word penny derives from Old English penig (or penning), a Germanic root for a small unit of value, related to similar terms in other languages. The modern term cent comes from Latin centum, meaning hundred, reflecting its relation to the base unit of value in the respective currency.

Penny is also a female given name, typically a diminutive of Penelope. It has been used in English-speaking countries since the 19th century and appears in various works of fiction and popular culture. Notable people named Penny include Penny Marshall, an American actress, director, and producer, and Penny Chenery, the owner of the racehorse Secretariat.

In culture and language, penny appears in idioms such as “a penny saved is a penny earned” and “a penny for your thoughts,” conveying ideas about small value or modest cost. The name Penny is also common for fictional characters, such as Penny from the television series The Big Bang Theory.