{To go off half-cocked}, {To go off halfcocked}. (a) To be discharged prematurely, or with the trigger at half cock; -- said of a firearm. (b) To do or say something without due thought or care. [Colloq. or Low] [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
halfcock — half cock n. The position of the hammer of a firearm when it is raised halfway and locked by a catch so that the trigger cannot be pulled. * * * … Universalium
Halfcocked — Halfcock Half cock ( k[o^]k ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Halfcocked}( k[o^]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Halfcocking}.] To set the cock of (a firearm) at the first notch. [1913 Webster] {To go off half cocked}, {To go off halfcocked}. (a) To be discharged… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Halfcocking — Halfcock Half cock ( k[o^]k ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Halfcocked}( k[o^]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Halfcocking}.] To set the cock of (a firearm) at the first notch. [1913 Webster] {To go off half cocked}, {To go off halfcocked}. (a) To be discharged… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
To go off half-cocked — Halfcock Half cock ( k[o^]k ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Halfcocked}( k[o^]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Halfcocking}.] To set the cock of (a firearm) at the first notch. [1913 Webster] {To go off half cocked}, {To go off halfcocked}. (a) To be discharged… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
To go off halfcocked — Halfcock Half cock ( k[o^]k ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Halfcocked}( k[o^]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Halfcocking}.] To set the cock of (a firearm) at the first notch. [1913 Webster] {To go off half cocked}, {To go off halfcocked}. (a) To be discharged… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
At 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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
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 bushel; a half… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Half ape — 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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Half back — 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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Half bent — 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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
