She buys little or nothing (5)

I believe the answer is:

penny

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'nothing' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both quantities as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'she buys little' is the wordplay.
'she' becomes 'Pen'.
'buys little' becomes 'ny' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'pen'+'ny'='PENNY'

'or' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for penny that I've seen before include "Denarius" , "Bronze coin" , "Copper coin" , "Coin spent by the desperate?" , "Smallest UK coin" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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