half cock

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See synonyms for: half-cocked on Thesaurus.com

noun

the position of the hammer of a firearm when held halfway between the firing and retracted positions by a mechanism so that it will not operate.

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Origin of half cock

First recorded in 1695–1705

Words nearby half cock

half-cell, half cent, half-century, half-circle, half-closed, half cock, half-cocked, half-completed, half-concealed, half-conscious, half-convinced

Other definitions for half cock (2 of 2)

half-cock

[ haf-kok, hahf- ]

/ ˈhæfˈkɒk, ˈhɑf- /

verb (used with object)

to set the hammer of (a firearm) at half cock.

Origin of half-cock

First recorded in 1825–35

How to use half cock in a sentence

Eric Garcetti succeeded Villaraigosa and has received high marks in his first year and a half on the job.
The Golden State Preps for the ‘Red Wedding’ of Senate Races|David Freedlander|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
My dad was a sailor, and all through my childhood he was away half of the time at sea, and to an extent I have a similar job.
Belle & Sebastian Aren’t So Shy Anymore|James Joiner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
As a result, training squadrons—called Formal Training Units (FTU)—are being staffed with less than half the people they need.
Exclusive: U.S. Drone Fleet at ‘Breaking Point,’ Air Force Says|Dave Majumdar|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Travel Noire fellows earned about a half million travel miles in 2014.
‘We Out Here’: Inside the New Black Travel Movement|Charlise Ferguson|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Murders in the City of Angels have fallen by about half in the last 10 years: no small feat for such a big city.
America’s 2014 Murder Capital|Brandy Zadrozny|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It is the principal waste-product of metabolism, and constitutes about one-half of all the solids excreted—about 30 gm.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
A small book, bound in full purple calf, lay half hidden in a nest of fine tissue paper on the dressing-table.
Hilda Lessways|Arnold Bennett
Hilda, trembling at the door, more than half expected Mr. Orgreave to say: "You mean, she's invited herself."
Hilda Lessways|Arnold Bennett
All changes are to be Rang either by walking them (as the term is) or else Whole-pulls, or Half-pulls.
Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing|Richard Duckworth and Fabian Stedman
The well-known "cock and bull" stories of small children are inspired by this love of strong effect.
Children's Ways|James Sully

British Dictionary definitions for half cock

half-cock

noun

on a single-action firearm, a halfway position in which the hammer can be set for safety; in this position the trigger is cocked by the hammer which cannot reach the primer to fire the weapon

go off at half-cock or go off half-cocked

to fail as a result of inadequate preparation or premature starting
to act or function prematurely

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012