farthing

The story

1. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*fedurþungaz“a quarter”
2. Old English · inherited fromfēorþing
3. Middle English · inherited fromferthing
4. English todayfarthing

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”).