an.

HALF-BREADTH PLAN. In ship-building, the same as _floor-plan_.

HALF-COCK. To go off at half-cock is an unexpected discharge of a
fire-arm; hurried conduct without due preparation, and consequently
failure.

HALF-DAVIT. Otherwise _fish-davit_ (which see).

HALF-DECK. A space between the foremost bulk-head of the steerage and
the fore-part of the quarter-deck. In the Northumberland colliers the
steerage itself is called the _half-deck_, and is usually the habitation
of the crew.

HALF-DROWNED LAND. Shores which are rather more elevated and bear more
verdure than _drowned land_ (which see).

HALF-FLOOD. _See_ FLOOD.

HALF-GALLEY. _See_ GALLEY.

HALF-HITCH. Pass the end of a rope round its standing part, and bring it
up through the bight. (_See_ THREE HALF-HITCHES.)

HALF-LAUGHS AND PURSER'S GRINS. Hypocritical and satirical sneers.

HALF-MAN. A landsman or boy in a coaster, undeserving the pay of a
_full-man_.

HALF-MAST. The lowering a flag in respect for the death of an officer.

HALF-MINUTE GLASS. _See_ GLASS.

HALF-MOON. An old form of outwork somewhat similar to the ravelin,
originally placed before the salients of bastions.

HALF-PIKE. An iron spike fixed on a short ashen staff, used to repel the
assault of boarders, and hence frequently termed a _boarding-pike_.

HALF-POINT. A subdivision of the compass card, equal to 5 deg. 37' of the
circle.

HALF-PORTS. A sort of one-inch deal shutter for the upper half of those
ports which have no hanging lids; the lower half-port is solid and
hinged, having a semicircle cut out for the gun when level, and falling
down outwards when ready for action; the upper half-port fits loosely
into rabbets, and is secured only by laniards.

HALF-SEA. The old term for mid-channel.

HALF SEAS OVER. Nearly intoxicated. This term was used by Swift.

HALF-SPEED! An order in steam navigation to reduce the speed. (_See_
FULL SPEED!)

HALF-TIDE ROCKS. Those showing their heads at half-ebb. (_See_ TIDE.)

HALF-TIMBERS. The short timbers or futtocks in the cant-bodies,
answering to the lower futtocks in the square-body; they are placed so
as to give good shiftings.

HALF-TOP. The mode of making ships' tops in two pieces, which are
afterwards secured as a whole by what are termed sleepers.

HALF-TOPSAILS, UNDER. Said of a chase about 12 miles distant, the rest
being below the horizon.

HALF-TURN AHEAD! An order in steam navigation. (_See_ TURN AHEAD!)

HALF-WATC