Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

halfcock en · NOUN

Etymology

From half + cock.

Meanings

(uncountable) The position when the cock of a gun is at the first notch.
- This was bad both for the alibi reshoots it caused and subsequent delays in a match, but if the hammer fell to halfcock enough times, the half-cock notch would mar the sear tip, adversely affecting trigger pull. 2010, Patrick Sweeney, 1911 The First 100 Years: The First 100 Years:

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
half cock		alternative	lexicographic
half-cock		alternative	lexicographic

Deriveds

go off at halfcock

Translations (1)

mi kaketū (Translations)

halfcock en · VERB

Etymology

From half + cock.

Meanings

To set the cock of a firearm at the first notch.

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
halfcocked	Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part		lexicographic
halfcocked	Tense=Past		lexicographic
half-cock		alternative	lexicographic
halfcocks	Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres		lexicographic
halfcocking	Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part		lexicographic
half cock		alternative	lexicographic

Deriveds

go off halfcocked