Dictionary
half cock
noun
Definition of HALF COCK
1
: the position of the hammer of a firearm when about half retracted and held by the sear so that it cannot be operated by a pull on the trigger
2
chiefly British : a state of inadequate preparation or mental confusion <go off at half cock>
ADVERTISEMENT
First Known Use of HALF COCK
1745
Rhymes with HALF COCK
acock, ad hoc, air lock, alt-rock, amok, armlock, art-rock, backblock, ball cock, Balzac, bangkok, Bangkok, baroque, Bartók, bawcock, bedrock, bemock, bitstock, blackcock, blesbok, bloodstock, breechblock, burdock, buttstock, caprock, coldcock, crew sock, deadlock, defrock, dreadlock, dry dock, Dvořák, earlock, elflock, en bloc, epoch, fatstock, feedstock, fetlock, firelock, flintlock, forelock, foreshock, gamecock, gemsbok, gridlock, hard rock, havelock, haycock, headlock, headstock, heart block, hemlock, in stock, Iraq, jazz-rock, Kanak, Kazak, Kazakh, kapok, kneesock, Ladakh, Laubach, livestock, lovelock, matchlock, Mohock, Moloch, nostoc, o'clock, oarlock, padlock, peacock, penstock, petcock, pibroch, picklock, post hoc, punk rock, rhebok, rimrock, roadblock, rootstock, Rostock, rowlock, scalp lock, Schirach, seed stock, shamrock, Sheetrock, shell shock, sherlock, Ship Rock, shock jock, shot clock, shylock, Sirach, slickrock, Slovak, smock frock, snatch block, soft rock, springbok, steenbok, stopcock, sunblock, swage block, ticktock, time clock, time lock, traprock, unblock, uncock, undock, van Gogh, wall rock, warlock, wedlock, wheel lock, whipstock, woodblock, woodcock, wristlock, zwieback
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: half–cockedPrevious Word in the Dictionary: half closeAll Words Near: half cock
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up half cock? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).