1029
pension
pen-knife /'pen-naɪf/ also pocketknife n pl. -knives
/naɪvz/ a small knife with usually two blades that fold into
the handle, usually carried in the pocket → compare SWISS
ARMY KNIFE
pen-man-ship /'penmənʃɪp/ n [U] fml the art of writing by
hand, or skill in this art: his flawless penmanship
Penn, Sean /pen, ʃɔːn/
(1960–) an American film
actor, DIRECTOR, and PRO-
DUCER. Films he has
appeared in include Dead
Man Walking, Sweet and Low-
down, and I Am Sam. Films
he has directed include The
Indian Runner and The
Pledge. His first wife was the
POP SINGER Madonna.
Penn, William (1644–1718)
an English leader of the
QUAKERS (=a Christian reli-
gious group), who was put in
prison for having unaccept-
able religious beliefs. After he
was let out of prison, he was
given some land in North America, and he established a
COLONY there as a place of religious freedom for Quakers
and others to go and live in. He called the colony PENNSYL-
VANIA, and planned and built the city of PHILADELPHIA in
1682.
'pen name n a name used by a writer instead of his/her real
name → see also PSEUDONYM
,Penn and 'Teller Raymond Teller (1948–) and Penn Jillette
(1955–) are two American MAGICIANS who work together.
Their shows combine magic tricks with COMEDY and are
often shown on television. Teller is known for not speaking
during their performances. They often do a trick and then
explain to the audience exactly how they did it.
pen-nant /'penənt/ n 1 a usually long narrow pointed flag,
especially as used on ships for signalling or by schools,
sports teams etc 2 (in BASEBALL) the prize given to the best
team in both the American and National Leagues; these two
teams then go on to play in the World Series: The Cubs are in
the pennant race for the first time in years. (=they have a
chance to win the pennant)
Penney, J C, Penney's → see J C PENNEY
pen-nies /'peniz/ pl. of PENNY → see PENNY (USAGE)
Pennies from 'Heaven (1978) a British television pro-
gramme by Dennis POTTER, later made into a film (1981),
which is known for its unusual and clever combination of a
serious story with popular songs from the 1930s
pen-ni-less /'peniləs/ adj having no money; very poor: The
debt-collectors took all his money, and he was left completely
penniless.
Pen-nines, the /'penaɪnz/ a RANGE of hills in a line down
the middle of England from the Scottish border to central
England, which are sometimes called the 'backbone of
England'
Pennine 'Way, the a very long path (250 miles) along the
PENNINES, which people walk along for pleasure or exercise
pen-n'orth /'penəθ–ərθ/ BrE also pennyworth AmE, BrE fml
— n [(of)] old-fash as much as can be bought for a penny: a
penn'orth/six penn'orth of sweets
Penn-syl-va-ni-a /ˌpensəl'veɪniə, -sɪl-/ written abbrev. PA a
state in the northeastern US, known for producing large
amounts of steel and coal. It was one of the 13 original US
states, and was an important centre in the fight to become
independent from Britain during the American Revolution-
ary War. → see also PENN, WILLIAM
Pennsylvania 'Dutch, the n [P] a group of people living
in the US state of Pennsylvania, who came from Germany in
the 1600s and 1700s to find religious freedom, and still live
in the style of that time. They wear very old-fashioned
clothes like those worn in earlier times, and do not have cars
or other modern machines. They are Protestants, and
include the Amish and the Mennonites —Pennsylvania
Dutch adj
pen-ny /'peni/ n pl. pennies or pence /pens/ BrE 1 [C] a) also
p /pi:/ — (in Britain since 1971) a unit of money equal to one
hundredth (1/100) of a pound: That'll be 75p, please. | a 20p/50p
piece | It only costs a few pence. b) a small BRONZE coin
worth one penny: a stack of pennies 2 [C] (in Britain before
1971) a unit of money equal to one 12th (1/12) of a SHILLING:
The book cost two and sixpence. 3 [C] (in the US and
Canada) (a coin worth) a cent 4 [S usually in negatives] a small
amount of money: The journey won't cost you a penny if you
come in my car. 5 a penny for them/your thoughts
(usually said to someone who has been silent for a while or
appears deep in thought) tell me what you are thinking
about 6 be two/ten a penny infml to be very cheap and/or
easy to obtain, and therefore of little value: Brilliant stu-
dents are ten a penny at that college. 7 in for a penny, in for
a pound BrE if something has been started it should be
finished, whatever the cost may be 8 the penny (has)
dropped BrE infml the meaning (of something said) was/has
been at last understood: He puzzled over her remark for a
moment, and then at last the penny dropped. 9 -penny /pəni;
strong peni/worth the stated number of pence: a fourpenny
stamp | a sixpenny piece (=coin) → see also HALFPENNY,
PRETTY PENNY, spend a penny (SPEND)
In Britain, the US, and Canada, the plural pennies
is used when speaking or writing of the coins themselves:
He had some coins in his pocket, but no pennies. In
Britain, when writing about an amount of money, use
pence (in the US cents): It will only cost a few pence or
(in prices) p: 30p a packet. When saying an amount of
money use pence or p (infml): six pence/ ten p (:-). The
singular form for an amount of money is a/one penny,
one pence, one p (in informal speech) or 1p (when writing
prices).
,Penny 'Black n the first British stamp for sticking on
envelopes. It was introduced in 1840, and its value was one
penny, which was the cost of sending a letter by post in
Britain. The stamp shows the head of Queen VICTORIA on a
dark background, and stamp collectors consider it to be very
important, although it is not the rarest British stamp.
,penny 'dreadful n BrE a book about exciting adventures or
violent crime, originally costing one penny, of a type that
was common in the 19th century
,penny-'farthing n a bicycle with a very large front wheel
and a very small back wheel, used in the late 19th century
,penny-'halfpenny n BrE THREE-HALFPENCE
'penny ,pincher n derog a person who is unwilling to spend
or give money —penny-pinching adj, n [U]
,penny 'whistle n a simple tubelike musical instrument,
played by blowing and moving the fingers. Penny whistles
are commonly used in Irish music.
pen-ny-worth /'peniwɜːθ–wɜːrθ/ n [(of)] BrE fml or AmE a
PENN'ORTH
pe-nol-o-gy /ˌpiːnɒlədʒɪl–'nɑːl–/ n [U] the scientific study of
the punishment of criminals, the operation of prisons etc
'pen pal n especially AmE for PEN FRIEND
'pen ,pusher BrE || usually pencil pusher AmE — n humor or
derog a clerk
pen-sion¹ /'penʃən/ n an amount of money paid regularly,
especially by a government or company, to someone who
can no longer earn (enough) money by working, especially
when they are old or ill. Money is previously paid regularly,
usually for many years, into the pension system by the
person, and the amount they pay decides the size of the
pension: She went to the post office to draw (=collect) her
pension. | He retired on a company pension. | a war/
retirement pension | a pension scheme → see also OLD AGE
PENSION
pension² v
pension sbdy. ⇔ off phr v [T] to dismiss from work,
especially because of old age or illness, but continue to pay a
pension to: She was pensioned off at 55. | (fig., infml) It's time
your rusty old bike was pensioned off. (=got rid of)
pen-si-on³ /'pɒnsɪɒn‖ˌpɑnsiˈɒn/ n a house in a non-
English-speaking country where one can get a room and
meals; BOARDINGHOUSE