To go off at half-cock (or half-cocked), verb. phr. 1. (sporting).—To fail through hasty and ill considered endeavours; and 2. (venery) = to ejaculate before completing erection.
1848. Lowell, Biglow Papers [Wk. 1891], p. 231. Now don’t go off half-cock: folks never gains By usin’ pepper-sarse instid o’ brains.
Half-cracked, adv. (common).—Lacking in intelligence. See Apartments and Tile Loose.
1887. W. P. Frith, Autobiog., i., 129. Who was what is vulgarly called half-cracked.
Half-crown Word, subs. phr. (common).—1. A difficult or uncommon vocable; a jaw-breaker (q.v.) or crack-jaw. Also (tailors’) = a sleeveboard (q.v.). [[250]]
Half-crowner, subs. (booksellers’).—A publication costing 2s. 6d.
Half-cut, adv. (common).—Half-drunk. For synonyms, see Drinks and Screwed.
Half-fly Flat, subs. phr. (thieves’).—A thief’s jackal; a man (or woman) hired to do rough or dirty work.
Half-grown Shad, subs. phr. (American).—A dolt. For synonyms, see Buffle and Cabbage-head.
1838. Neal, Charcoal Sketches. No more interlect than a half-grown shad.