halfcock

The position when the cock of a gun is at the first notch.

Noun

  1. The position when the cock of a gun is at the first notch.
    • This was bad both for the alibi reshoots it caused and subsequent delays in a match, but if the hammer fell to halfcock enough times, the half-cock notch would mar the sear tip, adversely affecting trigger pull. - 2010,...

Origin

From half + cock.

Forms

half cock half-cock

Derived

go off at halfcock

Verb

  1. To set the cock of a firearm at the first notch.

Forms

halfcocks halfcocking halfcocked half cock half-cock

Derived

go off halfcocked