Can somebody help me with the standard etymology for PFENNIG [from Middle
High German PFENNIC, from Old High German PFENNING] and eventually for the
Latin PENA ?
Thank You,
S o r i n
P.S.
". the idea of paying as a penalty, Latin PENA, also gives origin to the
Polish word PIENIADZE, Czech PENÍZE, Slovak PENIAZE, and probably to the
words PENNY and the German PFENNIG. The general Scandinavian word for
"money" evolved from PFENNIG via PENNING, which was the currency in the
Scandinavian countries from the X to the XVI Century, to PENGER. The Swedes
spell it PENGAR, the Norwegians PENGER and the Danish PENGE.
The Latin penalty fee PENA also made it to the Russian language, where it
stands for "penalty fe" ".
[from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A873795%5d