ninepence（n.）
"九便士的总和"，1540年代，来自 nine + pence。在英格兰从未发行过这种面值的硬币，但伊丽莎白女王为爱尔兰发行的银先令在英格兰流通，相当于九便士，在新英格兰，它是一种价值约为新英格兰货币九便士的西班牙银币的名称。
The ninepence was a coin formerly much favoured by faithful lovers in humble life, as a token of their mutual affection. It was for this purpose broken into two pieces, and each party preserved with care one portion, until on their meeting again, they hastened to renew their vows. [John Gough Nichols, "Anecdotes of the English Coinage," in The Numismatic Chronicle, 1839]
九便士曾经是一种受到低调恋人们青睐的硬币，作为他们相互间爱意的象征。为此，它被分成两半，每个人都小心地保存一部分，直到他们再次相遇，他们就会迫不及待地更新他们的誓言。[约翰·高夫·尼科尔斯，《英国货币轶闻录》，《货币学年鉴》，1839年]
该词起源时间：1540年代