half-cock

H h

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [haf, hahf kok]
- /hæf, hɑf kɒk/
- /hɑːf kɒk/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [haf, hahf kok]
- /hæf, hɑf kɒk/

Definitions of half-cock word

verb with object half-cock to set the hammer of (a firearm) at half cock. 1
noun half-cock the position of the hammer of a firearm when held halfway between the firing and retracted positions by a mechanism so that it will not operate. 1
noun half-cock 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 0
noun half-cock the halfway position of the hammer of a firearm, when the trigger is locked and cannot be pulled 0

See all 4 definitions of half-cock

Information block about the term

Origin of half-cock

First appearance:

before 1825

One of the 37% newest English words

First recorded in 1825-35

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Half-cock

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Half-cock

half-cock popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 44% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.

According to our data about 63% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.