See also: Petties

English edit

Etymology edit

From petty (adjective, noun) +‎ -ies. The plural noun is a shortening of petty expenses.

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

petties pl (plural only)

  1. Petty or miscellaneous expenses.
    • 1684, “Introduction. The First Place.”, in Richard Dafforne, compiler, The Merchant’s Mirrour: Or, Directions for the Perfect Ordering and Keeping of His Accounts. [], London: [] Miles Flesher, for Robert Horne, [], →OCLC, page 5:
      This Book of Expences is likewiſe a kind of Caſh-book, and is onely for charges, which generally are poſted once a month in one ſum into the Journal: partly for brevity, to poſt many petties into one ſum; partly becauſe in great mens houſes it's the proper office of ſome one man to adminiſtrate thoſe petty Expences, rendring an account of each particular, as well for Muſtard and Matches to kindle the fire, as of things of greater importance, unto which end there is kept a Particular book.
    • 1920, Julean Arnold et al., “United States Customs Requirements. By Commissioner of United States Treasury Department, Shanghai.”, in Commercial Handbook of China (Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, Department of Commerce, Miscellaneous Series; no. 84), volume 2, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page 68:
      The usual charges accruing in the purchase and shipment of merchandise are as follows: Cases and packing; marine insurance; fire insurance; petties (including telegrams, postage, etc.); commissions; shipping; warehouse charges; coolie hire; freight; consular fee.
    • 1924, “Third Addendum to Agency Agreement for Managing and Operating Vessels, ‘Operating Agreement, 1924’”, in Merchant Marine Investigation: Appendix to Hearings before the Committee on Merchant Marine, Radio, and Fisheries, House of Representatives, Seventy-second Congress, First Session, on General Inquiry into the American Merchant Marine and United States Shipping Board and Merchant Fleet Corporation Affairs, including Sales, Operations, Construction Loans and Mail Contracts, Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, published 1932, →OCLC, page 771:
      All administrative and general expenses of every nature including traveling expenses of his employees and including telephones, telegrams, cables, postage, and petties, provided, however, that such expenses as telephones, telegraphs, cables, postage, and petties as may be properly and necessarily incurred at foreign and dependency ports by subagents and/or branch houses acting in the capacity of subagents and/or general agents, shall be excepted and shall be assumed by the owner, including radiograms sent by masters of the vessels.
    • 1925 April 10, Robert W[illiam] Bonynge, “[Hull and Cargo Losses. Settlement for Vessels Owned or Under Control of United States Shipping Board.]”, in Report of Robert W. Bonynge, Agent of the United States, before the Mixed Claims Commission, United States and Germany [], published 1934, →OCLC, page 54:
      In addition to the items above set out on the vessels involved in the three groups referred to, the revised statement of claim of the Shipping Board includes certain miscellaneous items, herein referred to as petties, to the total amount of $370,800.11.

Translations edit

Noun edit

petties

  1. plural of petty

Anagrams edit