• HALF
adv. M19 sl. – nearly, almost
n. 1. 1888 sl. – a half-pint of beer
n. 2. M19 US sl. – 50 cents
n. 3. 1920s sl. – £50 or $50
n. 4. 1931 Brit. sl. – the sum of ten shillings (50p)
n. 5. 1940s drug culture sl. – 1/2 oz of a drug
• HALF A BAR
n. 1911 UK sl. – ten shillings; later fifty pence
• HALF-A-BEAN
n. 1. L18 sl. – a half-sovereign
n. 2. 20C sl. – 50 cents
• HALF-A-BILL
n. 1940s US sl. – $50; a $50 note
• HALF-A-BORDE
n. L16 UK criminals’ sl. – a sixpence
• HALF-A-BREWER
adj. M19 sl. – drunk
• HALF A BUBBLE OFF
adj. 1982 Amer. dial. – mildly eccentric
• HALF A BUCK
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a fifty-cent piece
• HALF-A-BULL
n. L18 sl. – half-a-crown, two shillings and sixpence
• HALF A BUTTON
n. 1970s US criminals’ sl. – a criminal who is on the fringe of full membership of the US Mafia
• HALF-A-C
n. 1930s sl., orig. US criminals’ usage – a 50-dollar note
• HALF-A-CASE
n. 1. M19 sl. – a counterfeit half-crown
n. 2. 1950 US sl. – fifty cents
• HALF-A-CASER
n. L19 Aust. sl. – half-a-crown, two shillings and sixpence
• HALF A COCK
n. 1950 UK sl., based on rhyming sl. ‘cockle and hen (ten) – five pounds, £5
• HALF A CHIP
n. 1950 UK sl. – sixpence; a sixpenny bit
• HALF A CRACK
n. 1933 UK sl. – a half-crown coin; two shillings and sixpence
• HALF-A-CROWN
n. 1940s sl. – in bingo: the number 26
• HALF-A-CROWNER
n. 1. L19 sl. – any publication costing two shillings and sixpence
n. 2. L19 sl. – one who pays half-a-crown for a seat at a show
• HALF-A-DOLLAR
n. 1. L19 rhyming sl. – a collar
n. 2. 1916 UK sl. – a half-crown coin; two shillings and sixpence
n. 3. 1990 US sl. – a prison sentence of 50 years
• HALF-A-FOOT
n. 1920s W. Indies sl. – a person with a wooden leg
• HALF A FOOTBALL FIELD
n. 2001 UK sl. – fifty crystals of crack cocaine
• HALF-A-G
n. 1930s US criminals’ sl. – $500
• HALF-A-GRAND
n. 1930s US criminals’ sl. – $500
• HALF-A-HOG
n. L17 sl. – sixpence
• HALF-A-JIFFY
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a short time; a moment
• HALF-A-JOB
n. L17 sl. – a half-guinea
• HALF-ALLIGATOR
adj. M19 sl. – aggressive, tough, rambunctious
• HALF-A-MAN
n. 1. 1960s sl. – 50 cents
n. 2. 1970s African-American sl. – a passive homosexual
n. 3. 1988 Amer. dial. – a half pint of whisky
n. 4. 1997 US sl. – a short person
• HALF A MO
n. 1. 1896 UK sl. – a very short but vaguely defined time, a moment
n. 2. 1910s sl. – a cigarette
phr. L19 sl. – wait a moment, hang on
• HALF A MONGREL
n. 1990s Aust. sl. – a semi-erect penis
• HALFANCE
n. c1937 Amer. dial. – half shares
• HALF AND BETWEEN
adj. 1. 1862 Sc. – neutral, neither one thing nor the other
adj. 2. 20C Irish sl. – of a person: slightly mad, eccentric
• HALF AND HALF
adj. 1. 1715 – in a half-intoxicated state, tipsy
adj. 2. M19 sl. – second-rate
adj. 3. 1900s sl. – married
adj. 4. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – half-witted
adj. 5. 1944 Amer. sl. – hermaphroditic
adj. 6. 1958 Trinidad and Tobago – mediocre
adj. 7. 1975 US sl. – bisexual
(nouns usually as ‘half-and-half’)
n. 1. 1828 Amer. dial. – a person of mixed blood
n. 2. E19 sl. – a mixture of wine and whisky
n. 3. 1909 UK sl. – a pint drink comprising equal measures of two different beers
n. 4. 1935 Amer. dial. – a person with the characteristics of both a man and a woman; a hermaphrodite
n. 5. 1937 US sl. – oral sex on a man followed by vaginal intercourse
n. 6. 1960s Irish sl. – a homosexual man
n. 7. 1966 Amer. sl. – a drink made of half beer and half tomato juice
n. 8. 1967 Amer. dial. – a ham and (Swiss) cheese sandwich
n. 9. 1970s US homosexual sl. – fellatio plus anal intercourse
• HALF-AND-HALF-AND-HALF
adj. E19 UK criminals’ sl. – drunk, tipsy
• HALF-AND-HALF BOYS
n. E19 sl. – would-be dandies who fail to make the grade
• HALF-AND-HALF COVES
n. E19 sl. – would-be dandies who fail to make the grade
• HALF-AND-HALFER
n. L19 sl. – a person or object that cannot easily be categorized, neither one thing nor another
• HALF-AND-HALF MEN
n. E19 sl. – would-be dandies who fail to make the grade
• HALF A NED
n. 1. 1859 Amer. sl. – a $5 piece
n. 2. Bk1902 sl. – half a guinea
• HALF-AN-HOUR
n. 20C Aust. rhyming sl. – flour
• HALF A NICKER
n. 1. 1895 UK sl. – ten shillings; later fifty pence
n. 2. 1974 UK rhyming sl. – a vicar
• HALF-A-NOTE
n. L19 Aust. & Irish sl. – a 10-shilling note, 10 shillings
• HALF-AN-OUNCE
n. E18 sl. – half-a-crown, two shillings and sixpence
• HALF-APE
n. 1883 – a lemur
• HALF A QUARTER
n. 1902 Amer. dial. – as a unit of measure: an eighth of a mile
• HALF-A-QUID
adj. E19 sl. – worth 10 shillings or 50p
n. E19 sl. – 10 shillings; later, 50p
• HALF-ARSE
adj. M19 sl. – careless, inadequate, incompetent, second-rate
• HALF-ARSED
adj. 1. 1865 US sl. – careless, inadequate, inferior, unsatisfactory, ineffectual, incompetent, second-rate
adj. 2. 1933 US sl. – incomplete, not serious, half-hearted
adv. 1920s sl., orig. US – carelessly, incompetently
• HALF-A-SHAKE
n. 20C NZ sl. – a moment, a very short time
• HALF A SHEET
n. 1930s UK prison sl. – a punishment for wardens, usually a fine
• HALF-A-SHIRT
n. 1949 Amer. dial. – the red-headed woodpecker
• HALF-A-SLUG
n. 1940s US criminals’ sl. – 50 cents
• HALF-ASS
adj. 1. M19 sl. – careless, ineffectual, inadequate, incompetent, second-rate; mediocre, insignificant, unsatisfactory
adj. 2. 1932 sl., orig. US – of low quality; bad; inferior
adv. 1920s sl., orig. US – carelessly, incompetently
n. 1. 1587 obs. – a mule
n. 2. 1920s US sl. – a stupid, incompetent person
vb. 1968 Amer. dial. – to do something in a careless or haphazard fashion
• HALF-ASSED
adj. 1. 1865 US sl. – careless, inadequate, incompetent, second-rate, mediocre, insignificant
adj. 2. 1932 sl., orig. US – of low quality; bad; inferior; unsatisfactory
adj. 3. 1933 US sl. – incomplete, not serious, half-hearted
adj. 4. M20 US sl. – worthless; stupid; ill-planned; trivial
adv. 1. 1920s sl., orig. US – carelessly, incompetently; haphazardly
adv. 2. 1960s sl. – not seriously
adv. 3. 1970s sl. – reasonably
• HALF-ASSED BACKWARDS
adj. 1969 Amer. dial. – backward, awkward, clumsy
adv. 1969 Amer. dial. – clumsily, awkwardly, badly
• HALF A STRETCH
n. 1. M19 UK criminals’ sl. – 6 months imprisonment; also used by criminals for any period of 6 months
n. 2. 1940s African-American sl. – the distance of half a city block; usually used with ‘away’
n. 3. 1984 UK sl. – gambling odds of 6-1
• HALF-A-SURPRISE
n. L19 sl. – a single black eye
• HALF A TIC
n. L19 sl. – a very short time
• HALF A TICK
n. L19 sl. – a very short time
phr. 1910s sl. – wait a bit, hang on
• HALF-A-TON
n. 1. 1940s sl. – £50
n. 2. 1960s sl. – in bingo: the number 10
• HALF-A-TOSHEROON
n. M19 sl. – half-a-crown, two shillings and sixpence
• HALF-A-TUSHEROON
n. M19 sl. – half-a-crown, two shillings and sixpence
• HALF A-TWO
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – almost in two pieces, cracked, in half
• HALF AWAY
adj. Bk1905 Ireland – mad
• HALF-A-YARD
n. 1. 1920s US sl. – $5
n. 2. 1961 US sl. – fifty dollars
n. 3. 1960s sl. – $50 worth of heroin
• HALFBACK FLANKER
n.20C Aust. rhyming sl. – a wanker
• HALF-BAKE
n. 1940s sl. – a fool, an inadequate person
• HALF-BAKED
adj. 1. E16 – incompetent, inadequate, below standard
adj. 2. 1855 Eng. dial. – intellectually deficient
adj. 3. 1855 Eng. dial. – foolish, silly, half-witted, weak of intellect; raw, inexperienced
n. 1. L19 Aust. sl. – an immature person
n. 2. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a foolish fellow
• HALF BAPTIZE
vb. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to baptize privately
• HALF-BAPTIZED
adj. 1795 Eng. dial. – foolish, silly, weak of intellect
• HALF-BAR
n. 20C sl. – a half-sovereign (10 shillings)
• HALF-BEAN
n. L18 sl. – a half-sovereign
• HALF BED
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – a single bed
• HALF BENT OUT OF SHAPE
adj. 1968 Amer. dial. – partly drunk
• HALF-BIT
adj. 1969 Amer. dial. – small and worthless
• HALF-BLIND
adj. M20 US colloq. – intoxicated with alcohol
• HALF BLOOD
n. 1. 1815 Amer. dial. – an animal with one purebred and one scrub parent
n. 2. 1824 Amer. dial. – the offspring of parents of different races, esp. a child of Native American and Caucasian parentage
• HALF-BORDE
n. L16 UK criminals’ sl. – a sixpence
• HALF-BRASS
n. 1940s sl. – a woman who associates with the prostitute milieu but is not a ‘working girl’ herself
• HALF-BRED
adj. a1732 obs. – imperfectly acquainted with the rules of good breeding; under-bred
• HALF-BREED
n. 18C sl., derogatory – a person of mixed ancestry
• HALF-BRINDLE-TO-BUCK
adj. 1952 Amer. dial. – of an animal: of uncertain pedigree or ancestry
• HALF BRODIE
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – a 180-degree turn made by a skidding or uncontrolled vehicle
• HALF-BROTHER
n. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – a cousin where the fathers are brothers
• HALF BUCK
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a fifty-cent piece
• HALF-BULL
n. L18 sl. – half-a-crown, two shillings and sixpence
• HALF-BULLED
adj. 20C Aust. sl. – intoxicated with alcohol
• HALF-BULL WHITE
n. L18 sl. – half-a-crown, two shillings and sixpence
• HALF-C
n. 1930s sl., orig. US criminals’ usage – a 50-dollar note
• HALF-CANNED
adj. 20C sl. – lightly intoxicated with alcohol
• HALF-CAP
n. 1607 obs. – a half-courteous salute, shown by a slight movement only of the cap
• HALF-CASE
n. 1. Bk1903 sl. – 2 shillings and sixpence
n. 2. 1940s US criminals’ sl. – 50 cents
• HALF-CASER
n. L19 Aust. sl. – half-a-crown, two shillings and sixpence
• HALF-CHACKIT
adj. 1910 Sc. – half drunk
• HALF-CHAR
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – doing things by halves; slightly, or badly done
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a foolish fellow
• HALF-CHAT
n. 1909 UK & Aust. sl. – a half-caste
• HALF-CHEEK
n. 1588 obs. – a face in profile, a side-face
• HALF-CHRISTENED
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – foolish, silly, weak of intellect
• HALF-CIRCLE
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – a marble game: four players lag for first, second, etc.; from the starting line they shoot taw to a half circle of marbles to knock them out; played for keeps
• HALF-COCK
adj. 2002 UK sl. – ill-considered; inferior
• HALF-COCKED
adj. 1. 1833 US sl. – not fully capable; not completely thought out; unfinished; incomplete
adj. 2. 1843 sl. & Eng. dial. – intoxicated with alcohol
• HALF COLONEL
n. 1956 US sl. – a lieutenant-colonel
• HALF-COMPASS
n. 1587 obs. – hemisphere
• HALF-COUSIN
n. 1883 Sc. – a first cousin once removed
• HALF-COUTER
n. Bk1903 sl. – 10 shillings
• HALF-COW’D
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – bent, stooping
• HALF-CROCK
n. c1970 Amer. dial. – steel marbles that were one half the size of a large crock; often the word was used to include all steelies
• HALF-CROWNER
n. L19 sl. – any publication costing two shillings and sixpence
• HALF-CUT
adj. 1. 1843 Amer. dial. – crude, uncultivated
adj. 2. 1893 Brit. sl. – moderately drunk
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – a man’s haircut, thin on the edges, thick on top
• HALF-CUTS
n. 1998 Barbados – trainers, sneakers
• HALF-DEAL
adv. 1399 obs. – half
n. 1399 obs. – a half, a half part
• HALF-DIME
n. 1796 – a nickel
• HALF-DOLLAR
n. 1. Bk1903 sl. – 2 shillings
n. 2. Bk1903 sl. – 2 shillings and sixpence
• HALF DRAG
n. M20 US homosexual sl. – the state of a homosexual male partly dressed like a woman
• HALF DUGOUT
n. 1889 Amer. dial. – a dwelling built partially under the ground
• HALF-EAGLE
n. a1824 – a gold coin of the U.S., of the value of $5
• HALFEN
adj. 1590 obs. rare – half
vb. 1677 obs. rare – to make into a half; to sever as a half from the whole
• HALFENDEAL
adj. a1300 obs. – half
adv. 1387 obs. – half, by half
n. c1000 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – a half, a half part
• HALFER
n. 1. 1625 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – one who halves; one who has a half share in anything; a partner
n. 2. 1970 Amer. dial. – a sharecropper or tenant farmer
• HALF-FACE
n. 1595 – a thin face
• HALF-FACED
adj. 1. 1592 – imperfect, incomplete, half-and-half
adj. 2. 1595 – having a thin, pinched face
• HALF-FACED GROAT
n. 1595 – a contemptuous term for a thin-faced man
• HALF FARMER
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – a farmer who shares his crop with landowner half and half
• HALF-FOOL
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – stupid, ignorant, half-witted
• HALF-FRIED
adj. 1979 India – of eggs: fried on one side only
• HALF-G
n. 1. 1930s US criminals’ sl. – $500
n. 2. 1971 NZ sl. – a half-gallon jar of alcohol
• HALF-GAIT
adj. 1820 Sc. – half-way
• HALF-GAITED
adj. 1873 Eng. dial. – limping, weak of gait
• HALF-GATE(S)
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – half-way
• HALF-GONE
adj. 1. 1893 Eng. dial. – foolish, silly, weak of intellect
adj. 2. 19C Brit. & US sl. – half drunk; mildly intoxicated with alcohol
adj. 3. Bk1905 Sc. – about in the middle period of pregnancy
• HALF-HALF-AND-HALF
adj. E19 UK criminals’ sl. – drunk, tipsy
• HALF-HAM
vb. 1. 1906 Amer. dial. – to move with a hop, skip, and a jump
vb. 2. 1954 Amer. dial. – to go around doing something one shouldn’t be doing
• HALF-HAMMER
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – a hopping or jumping motion
• HALF-HAMMON
vb. 1906 Amer. dial. – to move with a hop, skip, and a jump
• HALF HAND
n. 1. 1856 Amer. dial. – a person who does, or is allotted, half the amount of work expected of an able-bodied adult
n. 2. 1967 Amer. dial. – a sharecropper or tenant farmer
• HALF-HARD
adj. 1. 20C Brit. sl. – stupid
adj. 2. 20C sl. – pert. to a semi-erect penis
• HALF-HEADED
adj. 1625 – half-intelligent; stupid, foolish; deficient in intellect or common sense
• HALF-HEARTED
adj. 1864 – wanting in true affection, ungenerous, unkind → obs.
• HALF-HIGH
adj. 1966 – partly drunk, tipsy → Amer. dial.
• HALF-HOG
n. L17 – sixpence → sl.
• HALF-HORN
n. 1905 – a half-pint of ale or beer → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• HALF HORSE, HALF ALLIGATOR
n. 1817 – a swaggering, pugnacious frontiersman, esp. a riverboatman → Amer. dial.
• HALF-HOUSE
n. 1737 – a shed open at the side; a hovel
• HALF-HUNG-TEE
adj. 1. 1929 – of persons aping their betters: pretentious, affecting gentility → Sc.
adj. 2. 1956 – half-witted, not all there → Sc.
n. 1929 – would-be gentry → Sc.
• HALF-INCH
vb. 1925 – to steal → Brit. rhyming sl. for ‘pinch’
• HALFING
adv. ..897 – half → obs.
• HALFINGS
n. 1970 – half shares → Amer. dial.
• HALF IN THE BAG
adj. 1967 – just beginning to show the effects of liquor → Amer. sl.
• HALF-ISLAND
n. 1600 – a peninsula → obs.
• HALF-ISLE
n. 1618 – a peninsula → obs.
• HALF-JACK
adj. 1905 – half-witted → Sc.
n. 1903 – 10 shillings → sl. (Bk.)
• HALF-JAMES
n. 1903 – 10 shillings → sl. (Bk.)
• HALF-JANE
n. 1903 – 10 shillings → sl. (Bk.)
• HALF-KNACK
adj. 1897 – partial, half-and-half; half-trained → Eng. dial.
• HALF-LAUGH
n. 1905 – any action done by halves, or half-heartedly → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• HALF-LEG DEEP
adj. 1752 – approximately knee-deep or knee-high → Amer. dial.
• HALF-LEG HIGH
adj. 1852 – approximately knee-deep or knee-high → Amer. dial.
• HALFLIN
adj. 1. 1787 – half-grown, youthful → Sc.
adj. 2. 1796 – half, partial → Sc.
adj. 3. 1824 – half-grown, young → Sc.
adv. 1789 – half-way; mid-way; in equals shares → Sc.
n. 1. 1808 – a half-witted person; a fool → Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 2. 1867 – a half-grown boy; a stripling; a boy employed upon a farm or in a stable; a hobbledehoy → Sc. & Eng. dial.
• HALFLING
adj. 1. 1705 – half-complete, imperfect → Sc.
adj. 2. 1815 – not fully grown; about the age of 15, youthful → Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
adv. 1225 – to the extent of half; half; in part, partially → obs. exc. Sc.
n. 1. 1794 – a half-grown boy; a stripling; a boy employed upon a farm or in a stable; a hobbledehoy → Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
n. 2. 1808 – a half-witted person; a fool → Sc. & Eng. dial.
• HALFLINGS
adv. 1225 – to the extent of half; half; in part, partially → obs. exc. Sc.
• HALFLINS
adv. 1808 – half, partially; nearly → Sc. & Eng. dial.
• HALF-LIT
adj. M20 – intoxicated with alcohol → US sl.
• HALF-LONG
adj. 1805 – half-grown, adolescent → Sc.
n. 1708 – a half-grown lad; one engaged in farm work → Sc.
• HALF-LOOT
n. 1915 – a second lieutenant → World War I Amer. sl.
• HALFLY
adv. 1375 – half → obs.
• HALF MAN
n. 1. 1000 – one who is only half-human, or deficient in humanity
n. 2. 1727 – a eunuch
n. 3. 1914 – a half bottle of whisky or spirits → Sc.
n. 4. 1967 – a sharecropper or tenant farmer → Amer. dial.
• HALF-MARK MARRIAGE
n. 1816 – a clandestine marriage → Sc.
• HALF-MARROW
n. 1. 1637 – a husband or wife; a spouse → obs. exc. Eng. dial.
n. 2. ..19C – a faithless spouse → sl.
n. 3. ..19C – an incompetent seaman → nautical sl.
n. 4. 1847 – in mining, a partner
• HALF-MAST
adj. 1. 20C – stupid → Brit. sl.
adj. 2. 20C – pert. to a semi-erect penis → sl.
• HALF-MEMBER
n. 1762 – a semicolon → obs.
• HALF-MIDDLING
adj. 1896 – in poor health. indifferent in health → Eng. dial.
• HALF-MOON
n. 1. ..E17 – the female genitals → Brit. sl.
n. 2. 1659 – a cuckold → obs.
n. 3. 1950 – an outhouse, a privy → Amer. euphemism
n. 4. 1968 – a clear marble with a semicircular internal design → Amer. dial.
• HALF-MOON HOUSE
n. 1966 Amer. euphemism – an outhouse, a privy
• HALF-MUTCHKIN
n. 1816 Sc. – half a pint
• HALF NAB
n. 1892 Sc. – a pretentious person; one claiming to be genteel
• HALF-NABS
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – good-for-nothing; neither one thing nor another
• HALF-NATURAL
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a fool
• HALF-NAMED
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – privately baptized
• HALF-NEAR
adv. 1968 Amer. dial. – nearly, almost
• HALF-NED
n. Bk1903 sl. – 10 shillings
• HALF-NEDDY
n. Bk1903 sl. – 10 shillings
• HALFNER
n. 1594 obs. rare – one who shares to the extent of a half
• HALF-NETHERED
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – nearly perished with cold
• HALF-NIBS
n. Bk1902 sl. – one who apes gentility
• HALF-NICKER
n. 20C rhyming sl. – a vicar
• HALF-NICKER MAN
n. 1974 UK rhyming sl. – a vicar
• HALF-NOTE
n. L19 Aust. & Irish sl. – a 10-shilling note, 10 shillings
• HALF-NOTHING
n. 1787 Sc. – a very small sum; little or nothing; anything beneath consideration; a worthless person
• HALF-NOUGHT
n. 1843 Eng. dial. – a very small sum; little or nothing; anything beneath consideration; a worthless person
• HALF-NOWT
n. 1843 Eng. dial. – a very small sum; little or nothing; anything beneath consideration; a worthless person
• THE HALF OF IT
n. 1932 sl. – the most significant or important part of something; usually in negative contexts
• HALF-OLD
adj. 1790 Sc. – middle-aged
• HALF-OXFORD
n. Bk1903 sl. – 1 shillings and sixpence
• HALF-PART
n. 1398 obs. – half
• HALF PAST KISSING TIME
phr. 1910 Amer. sl. – a facetious reply to the question, “What time is it?”
• HALF PAST KISSING TIME AND TIME TO KISS AGAIN
phr. 1910 Amer. sl. – a facetious reply to the question, “What time is it?”
• HALFPENNIES
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – savings, a fortune
• HALFPENNY
n. 1599 obs. – a small fragment, bit, or piece
• HALFPENNY-WORTH
n. 1. 1864 Eng. dial. – a very small quantity
n. 2. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a good-for-nothing or clownish fellow
n. 3. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – an article of little value; a bargain
• HALF-PIE
adj. c1926 NZ sl. – indifferent
• HALF-PINT
n. 1. M20 US sl. – a small person; an ineffectual person, esp. a light-built male; sometimes, a term of endearment for a small child
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. college sl. – an inferior student
n. 3. 1968 Amer. dial. – a playing marble next size larger than common size; a marble half the size of a boulder
vb. 1865 Eng. dial. – to drink
• HALF-PINTER
n.Bk1999 Aust. sl. – a person small in stature
• HALF-PINT MACK
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a nickname for a short person
• HALF-PISSED
adj. E20 Brit. & US sl. – intoxicated with alcohol; partially intoxicated
• HALF POUNDER
n. 1953 Amer. dial. – rainbow trout
• HALF-QUID
n. E19 sl. – 10 shillings; later, 50p
• HALF-RAISED
adj. 1965 Amer. dial. – lacking manners, uncouth, boorish
• HALF-RATS
adj. L19 Brit. sl. – partially intoxicated with alcohol
• HALF-RENTER
n. 1969 Amer. dial. – a sharecropper or tenant farmer
• HALF RIGHT
adj. 1866 Eng. dial. – foolish, silly, weak of intellect
• HALF-RINSED
adj. E20 sl. – partially intoxicated with alcohol
• HALF-ROADS
adj. Bk1905 Sc. – half-way
• HALF-ROCK
n. 1893 Eng. dial. – a foolish or half-witted fellow
• HALF-ROCKED
adj. 1869 Eng. dial. – half-witted, silly, foolish, oafish
• HALF-ROUND SQUARE
n. 1960 Amer. dial. – a non-existent item serving as the basis for a practical joke
• HALF-SAVED
adj. 1871 Eng. dial. – half-witted, foolish, silly, weak of intellect
• HALF-SCRAPED
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – foolish, silly, weak of intellect
• HALF-SCREWED
adj. E19 Brit. & US sl. – partially intoxicated with alcohol
• HALF-SEA
adj. 1898 Sc. – tipsy
• HALF-SEAS-OVER
adj. 1. 1697 – halfway towards a goal or destination; half through with a matter; halfway between one state and another
adj. 2. a1700 humorous usage – half drunk
• HALF-SENSE
n. 1937 Amer. dial. – a minimum of intelligence or common sense
• HALF-SHAKED
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – foolish, silly, weak of intellect
• HALF-SHANNY
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – foolish, silly, weak of intellect
• HALF-SHAVED
adj. 1. 19C sl. – intoxicated with alcohol
adj. 2. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – foolish, silly, weak of intellect
• HALF-SHOT
adj. 1838 sl., orig. US – moderately drunk; tipsy
• HALF-SIR
n. 1843 Ireland – a churl; a miser
• HALF-SIZER
n. c1970 Amer. dial. – a marble of any colour, half the size of a boulder
• HALF-SLEWED
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – half-drunk
• HALF-SOAKED
adj. 1895 Eng. dial. – foolish, silly, weak of intellect
• HALF-SPHERE
n. 1611 obs. – hemisphere
• HALF-SPRUNG
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – half-drunk
• HALF-STRAIN
adj. 1873 Eng. dial. – foolish, silly, weak of intellect
• HALF-STRAINED
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – foolish, silly, weak of intellect
• HALF-STRAINER
n. 1887 Amer. dial. – a social climber; one who tries to live above one’s true station; one who puts on airs, and tries to associate with his superiors
• HALF STRETCH
n. M19 UK criminals’ sl. – 6 months imprisonment; also used by criminals for any period of 6 months
• HALF-STRIPE
adj. 1935 Amer. dial. – half-breed
• HALF-STUFF
n. 1883 Eng. dial. – a term of depreciation applied to persons
• HALF-TESTER
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a bed with a canopy
• HALF THE BAY OVER
adj. 1896 Amer. dial. – somewhat intoxicated
• HALF THERE
adj. 1. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – foolish, silly, weak of intellect
adj. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – inattentive; absent-minded
• HALF-THICK
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – foolish, silly, weak of intellect
n. 1896 Eng. dial. – a foolish fellow
• HALF TIDY
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – pretty well
• HALF-TIMER
n. 1888 Eng. dial. – a child who works half the day at a factory
• HALF-UNDER
adj. E20 US sl. – mildly intoxicated with alcohol
• HALF UP THE POLE
adj. 20C sl. – intoxicated with alcohol
• HALF-WAXED
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – half-grown
• HALF-WAY STRAINER
n. 1896 Amer. dial. – a social climber; one who tries to live above one’s true station; one who puts on airs, and tries to associate with his superiors
• HALF-WIDOW
n. B1900 Amer. – a wife whose husband is lazy and thriftless, and fails to properly provide for her necessities
• HALF-WIND
n. 1859 nautical usage obs. – a side-wind
• HALF-WIT
n. 1. 1678 obs. – one who is only half a wit; a dealer in poor witticisms
n. 2. 1755 – a half-witted or foolish person
• HALF-WITTED
adj. 1. c1645 obs. – lacking or deficient in common sense or reason; simple; senseless
adj. 2. 1712 – not having all one’s wits; imbecile; foolish; stupid
• HALF-WORD
n. c1369 – a word or speech which hints or insinuates something, instead of fully asserting it; a hint, suggestion
• HALF-WORLD
n. 1605 – hemisphere
• HALFY
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a fool; a half-witted person
• HALF-YARD
n. 1920s US sl. – $5
• HALF-YENORK
n. Bk1903 sl. – 2 shillings and sixpence
• HALF YOUR LUCK!
int. Bk1999 Aust. sl. – an exclamation indicating you feel the other person is very fortunate
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