half-staff

[haf-staf, hahf-stahf]

noun

1. half-mast.

Word History and Origins

Origin of half-staff¹

First recorded in 1595–1605

Example Sentences

There have been debates over whether to lower flags to half-staff.

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Fox 11, which first published the Fire Department memo, reported that several firehouses lowered their flags to half-staff anyway.

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Outside, the flags remained at half-staff in honor of the dead detectives.

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Adams ordered all flags at city buildings to fly at half-staff in honor of him.

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When he died in August of 2017, at age 80, it was duly noted around Los Angeles, but nobody lowered the flags to half-staff at City Hall in Malibu.

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