Half Laugh and Purser’s Grin, subs. phr. (nautical).—A sneer; a half-and-half meaning.—Clark Russell.
Halflings, adj. (Scots’).—Betwixt and between. [Usually said of a boy or girl just leaving childhood.]
1818. Scott, Heart of Midlothian, xi. In my youth, nay, when I was a hafflins callant.
Half-man, subs. (nautical).—A landsman rated as A.B.
Half-marrow, subs. (old Scots’).—1. A faithless spouse; also a parcel husband or wife.
1600–61. Rutherford, Letters, i., 123. Plead with your harlot-mother, who hath been a treacherous half-marrow to her husband Jesus.
2. (nautical).—An incompetent seaman.
Half-moon, subs. (old).—1. A wig; and (2) the female pudendum. For synonyms, see Periwinkle and Monosyllable.
1611. Lodowick Barry, Ram Alley (Dodsley, Old Plays, vii., 326, ed. 1875). Is not her half-moon mine?
Half-mourning, subs. (common).—A black eye. Full-mourning = two black eyes or deep grief.