half-track

Or half·track

[haf-trak, hahf-]

noun

1. a caterpillar tread that runs over and under the rear or driving wheels of a vehicle but is not connected with the forward wheels: used especially on military vehicles.

2. a motor vehicle with rear driving wheels on caterpillar treads.

3. Military.,  an armored vehicle equipped with half-tracks.

half-track

noun

1. a vehicle with caterpillar tracks on the wheels that supply motive power only

Other Word Forms

• half-tracked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of half-track¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

He scrambled out of his half-track and hid behind a well.

From Seattle Times

Doocy claimed it was about “optics,” noting that Obama said he didn’t want to see “the police rolling up in a half-track and have our police look like an occupying force.”

From Salon

Ishmael was commandeered to help dig free a half-track that had been deposited on Betio by a tank lighter and had promptly buried itself.

From Literature

Langley started walking back to the half-track alone.

From Project Gutenberg

Men obeyed him and dragged uniformed figures out of a light half-track that was plainly a staff car.

From Project Gutenberg