catchpenny en · NOUN
Etymology
Etymology tree substratebor.? Proto-Indo-European *kap- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *kapyéti Proto-Indo-European *kaptós Proto-Italic *kaptos Latin captus Proto-Indo-European *-yetider. Latin -io Vulgar Latin *captiāre Old French chacierbor. Anglo-Norman cachierbor. Middle English cacchen English catch Pre-Greekder.? Ancient Greek πᾰτᾰ́νη (pătắnē)bor. Latin patina Latin panna? Latin pannus? Proto-Indo-European *-n̥kʷo-der.? Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *-iHnos Proto-Germanic *-īnaz Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz ? Proto-Germanic *-ingaz Proto-Germanic *panningaz Proto-West Germanic *panning Old English peniġ Middle English peny English penny English catchpenny From catch + penny.
Meanings
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A cheap item designed to attract purchasers of other goods.
Near-synonym: loss leader
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A publication, etc. intended to make money, with no particular merit otherwise.
CURIOSITIES OF STREET LITERATURE: COMPRISING "COCKS," OR "CATCHPENNIES," A Large and Curious Assortment of STREET DROLLERIES, SQUIBS, HISTORIES, COMIC STORIES IN PROSE AND VERSE, […]
1886, Charles Hindley, The History of the Catnach Press, page xxiii:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| catchpennies | Number=Plur | lexicographic |