half-ˈcock
1half cock — half′ cock′ n. mil (on a firearm) the position of the hammer when held by the sear halfway between the firing and retracted positions so that the weapon cannot be fired • Etymology: 1695–1705 …
2half cock — n. the halfway position of the hammer of a firearm, when the trigger is locked and cannot be pulled …
3half-cock — noun the partly raised position of the cock of a gun. Phrases at half cock when only partly ready. Derivatives half cocked adjective …
4half cock — noun 1. : the position of the hammer of a firearm when about half retracted and held by the sear so that it cannot be operated by a pull on the trigger 2. : a state of inadequate preparation or mental confusion used with at the whole project went …
5half cock — noun Date: 1745 1. the position of the hammer of a firearm when about half retracted and held by the sear so that it cannot be operated by a pull on the trigger 2. chiefly British a state of inadequate preparation or mental confusion < go off at… …
6half cock — see go off at half cock half 1 (11) …
7half-cock — /haf kok , hahf /, v.t. to set the hammer of (a firearm) at half cock. [1825 35] * * * …
8half-cock — UK / US noun go off at half cock …
9half-cock — The position of the hammer of a firearm when about half retracted and held by the sear so that it cannot be operated by a normal pull of the trigger …
10At half cock — Half Half (h[aum]f), a. [AS. healf, half, half; as a noun, half, side, part; akin to OS., OFries., & D. half, G. halb, Sw. half, Dan. halv, Icel. h[=a]lfr, Goth. halbs. Cf. {Halve}, {Behalf}.] 1. Consisting of a moiety, or half; as, a half… …
