'Half measure' definitions:

Definition of 'Half measure'

From: GCIDE
  • 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 bushel; a half hour; a half dollar; a half view. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: The adjective and noun are often united to form a compound. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half; approximately a half, whether more or less; partial; imperfect; as, a half dream; half knowledge. [1913 Webster]
  • Assumed from thence a half consent. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]
  • Half ape (Zool.), a lemur.
  • Half back. (Football) See under 2d Back.
  • Half bent, the first notch, for the sear point to enter, in the tumbler of a gunlock; the halfcock notch.
  • Half binding, a style of bookbinding in which only the back and corners are in leather.
  • Half boarder, one who boards in part; specifically, a scholar at a boarding school who takes dinner only.
  • Half-breadth plan (Shipbuilding), a horizontal plan of one half a vessel, divided lengthwise, showing the lines.
  • Half cadence (Mus.), a cadence on the dominant.
  • Half cap, a slight salute with the cap. [Obs.] --Shak.
  • At half cock, the position of the cock of a gun when retained by the first notch.
  • Half hitch, a sailor's knot in a rope; half of a clove hitch.
  • Half hose, short stockings; socks.
  • Half measure, an imperfect or weak line of action.
  • Half note (Mus.), a minim, one half of a semibreve.
  • Half pay, half of the wages or salary; reduced pay; as, an officer on half pay.
  • Half price, half the ordinary price; or a price much reduced.
  • Half round. (a) (Arch.) A molding of semicircular section. (b) (Mech.) Having one side flat and the other rounded; -- said of a file.
  • Half shift (Mus.), a position of the hand, between the open position and the first shift, in playing on the violin and kindred instruments. See Shift.
  • Half step (Mus.), a semitone; the smallest difference of pitch or interval, used in music.
  • Half tide, the time or state of the tide equally distant from ebb and flood.
  • Half time, half the ordinary time for work or attendance; as, the half-time system.
  • Half tint (Fine Arts), a middle or intermediate tint, as in drawing or painting. See Demitint.
  • Half truth, a statement only partially true, or which gives only a part of the truth. --Mrs. Browning.
  • Half year, the space of six months; one term of a school when there are two terms in a year. [1913 Webster]