Jump To:

• half cock
  half cock

  noun

  the position of the hammer of a firearm when held halfway to the fully retracted position by a mechanism that prevents it from being released and firing the gun when the trigger is pulled.
• half-cock
  half-cock

  verb (used with object)

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

half cock

¹ American  

[haf kok] / ˈhæf ˈkɒk /

noun

1. the position of the hammer of a firearm when held halfway to the fully retracted position by a mechanism that prevents it from being released and firing the gun when the trigger is pulled.

---

half-cock ² American  

[haf-kok, hahf-] / ˈhæfˈkɒk, ˈhɑf- /

verb (used with object)

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

---

half-cock British  

noun

1. 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

2. 1. to fail as a result of inadequate preparation or premature starting

   2. to act or function prematurely

---

Etymology

Origin of half cock¹

First recorded in 1695–1705

Origin of half-cock²

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

half cock half-cock

Then it was not Dickinson's, but Jackson's, pistol that stopped at , half cock.

From Time Magazine Archive

In those days a lone prospector would never have thought of tramping this trail without his rifle ready in hand, and the hammer at half cock.

From Bloom of Cactus by Coleman, Ralph P. (Ralph Pallen)

Then he levered a cartridge into the chamber of his rifle, dropped the hammer to half cock, tucked the weapon under his arm and struck off parallel with the base of the mountain.

From The Land of Strong Men by Chisholm, A. M. (Arthur Murray)

“She has been now fooling me for six years;” and as he concluded this sentence, Mr Vanslyperken and Snarleyyow had reached the taffrail, and the dog raised his tail to the half cock.

From Snarley-yow or The Dog Fiend by Marryat, Frederick

"I beg your pardon, sir," said Lord Ipsden to his antagonist; "I am going to take a liberty—a great liberty with you, but I think you will find your pistol is only at half cock."

From Christie Johnstone by Reade, Charles

“The modification appears to be related to the notches on the internal portion of the hammer for full-cock, half-cock and quarter cock positions,” the prosecutors wrote in court papers.

From New York Times ● May 17, 2023

"It is absolutely essential that we stay focused on how in this transitional period, nobody loses their head, nobody goes off half-cock, people don't start moving on scatter-brained or revengeful premises," Kerry added.

From Reuters ● Jun. 27, 2016

I always carry my piece on half-cock, and never put my finger on the trigger.”

From The Gorilla Hunters by Ballantyne, R. M. (Robert Michael)

Because he was ashamed and hated himself, his temper was always at half-cock.

From The House of Toys by Miller, Henry Russell

Sear, sēr, n. the catch in a gun-lock by which it is held at cock or half-cock: a part of a gun-lock.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various