half pay

noun

1. half one's regular pay.
2. a reduced amount paid to a British army or navy officer when not in actual service or after retirement.

Word History and Origins

Origin of half pay¹

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

The other half pay to Miss Alice Arden, and the entire capital you are to secure to her on your death.

From Project Gutenberg

Four days later the House resolved to grant half-pay to the disbanded officers till they should be otherwise provided for.

From Project Gutenberg

Reduced to half-pay, during the Restoration, he nevertheless preserved his rank and officer's cross.

From Project Gutenberg

He was in friendly relations with Derville, the attorney, who commissioned him with a sort of half-pay for Colonel Chabert.

From Project Gutenberg

And still Miss Grundy told her fifty times a day that "she didn't half pay her way, to say nothing about the young one."

From Project Gutenberg