groats

Noun (1)

groat (countable and uncountable, plural groats)

1. (in plural) Hulled grain, chiefly hulled oats.

Noun (2)

groat (plural groats)

1. (archaic, historical) Any of various old coins of England and Scotland.
   • The Widdow that hath but a pan of braſſe,
     And ſcarſe a houſe to hide her head,
     Sometimes no penny to buy her bread,
     Muſt pay her Landlord many a groat,
     Or twil be puld out of her throat:1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], →OCLC, Act I
   1. (archaic, historical) Any unit of currency worth four pence.
   2. (archaic, historical) A historical English coin representing such a unit: a silver coin worth four English pennies, still minted as one of the set of Maundy coins.
      • The needy groom, that never finger'd groat,
        Would make a miracle of thus much coin …c. 1589–1590 (date written), Christopher Marlo[we], edited by Tho[mas] Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Iew of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published...
2. A proverbial small sum; a whit or jot.

See all 6 meanings of groat