halfcock
verbEtymology From half + cock.
1
Engineering, Firearms, Government, Military, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Politics, Tools, War, Weaponry To set the cock of a firearm at the first notch.
- Derived terms
- go off halfcocked
halfcock
nounEtymology From half + cock.
1
Engineering, Firearms, Government, Military, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Politics, Tools, War, Weaponry 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:
- Derived terms
- go off at halfcock