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Half-bred; imperfect. [R.] "A half-strained villain." Dryden.

Half the length of a sword; close fight. "At half-sword." Shak.

Constructed of a timber frame, having the spaces filled in with masonry; -- said of buildings.

Having, consisting of, or pertaining to, half tones; specif. (Photo-engraving),

A jury, for the trial of a fore foreigner, composed equally of citizens and aliens.

A foolish; a dolt; a blockhead; a dunce. Dryden.

Weak in intellect; silly.

Two in a year; semiannual. -- adv. Twice in a year; semiannually.

Any slender, marine fish of the genus Hemirhamphus, having the upper jaw much shorter than the lower; -- called also balahoo.

To set the cock of (a firearm) at the first notch. 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]

Wanting half its due qualities. [Obs.] Spencer.

Half; by the part. [Obs.] Chaucer. -- n.

One who possesses or gives half only; one who shares. [Obs.] Bp. Montagu.

The quality of being half; incompleteness. [R.] As soon as there is any departure from simplicity, and attempt at halfness, or good for me that is not good for him, my neighbor feels the wrong. Emerson.

A platform of a staircase where the stair turns back in exactly the reverse direction of the lower flight. See Quarterpace.

In the middle; at half the distance; imperfectly; partially; as, he halfway yielded. Temples proud to meet their gods halfway. Young.

glossus vulgaris), of the family Pleuronectidæ. It often grows very large, weighing more than three hundred pounds. It is an important food fish. [Written also holibut.]

An order of sponges, having simple siliceous spicules and keratose fibers; -- called also Keratosilicoidea.

Same as Dugong.

Holiness; sanctity; sacred oath; sacred things; sanctuary; -- used chiefly in oaths. [Archaic] So God me help and halidom. Piers Plowman. By my halidom, I was fast asleep. Shak.