half-mast
[haf-mast, hahf-mahst]
- a position approximately halfway between the top of a mast, staff, etc., and its base.
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- to place (a flag) at half-mast, as a mark of respect for the dead or as a signal of distress.
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Origin of half-mast
First recorded in 1620–30
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for half-mast
Contemporary Examples
Outside, somebody had taken care to lower the flags to half-mast.
If a male performer is only flying at half-mast, he may have to spend more time trying to get ready than actually performing.
Flags at the border crossing and private homes fly at half-mast in honor of Ivie.
In a show of solidarity, liberal Republican Mayor John Lindsay ordered that flags be flown at half-mast.
Historical Examples
Flags flew at half-mast from their steeples, and their bells tolled in grief.
The ClansmanThomas Dixon
The flags on all public buildings, and on the ships in the harbor, were at half-mast.
Peter CooperRossiter W. Raymond
Preliminary to lowering from half-mast it should first be raised to top.
How Girls Can Help Their CountryJuliette Low
But would they half-mast the flags here for a boarder, Mr. Smith?
Some Rambling Notes of an Idle ExcursionMark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
Flags are at half-mast, and funeral guns are sounding in our hearts.
Charles Sumner; His Complete Works, Volume XI (of 20)Charles Sumner
half-mast
- the lower than normal position to which a flag is lowered on a mast as a sign of mourning or distress
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- (tr) to put (a flag) in this position
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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
Word Origin and History for half-mast
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper