E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Doit (1 syl.).
Not a doit. The doit was a Scotch silver coin = one-third of a farthing. In England the doit was a base coin of small value prohibited by 3 Henry V. c. 1.
1
“When they will not give a doit to relieve a lame beggar, they will lay out ten to see a dead Indian.”—Shakespeare: The Tempest, ii. 2.
