moiety
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Half, but vulgarly used to signify a share or portion: as, He will come in for a small moiety.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “moiety” mean?
Half, but vulgarly used to signify a share or portion: as, He will come in for a small moiety.
Is “moiety” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.