half-mast

alternative half mast

1. uncountableThe lowered position, half the height of a mast, at which a flag is flown when mourning, especially expressing respect for the deceased.

   Any other UK national flags flown alongside the Union Flag when it is at half-mast should also be at half-mast.

   2016 October 13, Department for Culture, Media & Sport and Foreign & Commonwealth Office, "Flag-flying from UK government buildings for the death of the King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand", GOV.UK, Government Digital Service

   1 more example

   He is to be cremated later Thursday at a ceremony likely to be attended by the country's top leadership. Flags were seen flying at half-mast in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. China's state news agency Xinhua reported that flags would be lowered at government buildings across mainland China, semi-autonomous regions of Hong Kong and Macau, and in consulates abroad.

   2023 November 2, “China mourns late ex-Premier Li Keqiang”, in Deutsche Welle, archived from the original on 02 Nov 2023, China

2. broadlyuncountableThe lowered position of anything.
3. colloquialuncountablebusinessAn unfashionably short length of a pair of trousers.

   I looked around. Ari in a green jacket with four inches of fore arm showing and trousers at half mast, Penny and I in mismatched padded jackets and ski trousers which were way too long; and all wearing the silver moon boots that had been the rage in the early eighties.

   2016, Jeff Payne, Rider (page 142)

4. euphemisticuncountableThe state of having a partially erect penis.

   Finally, he was at half-mast, hanging out over the toilet seat, barely erect.

   2009, Stephen Cannell, At First Sight: A Novel of Obsession, Vanguard Press, →ISBN, page 227

present singular third person half-masts · participle present half-masting · participle past half-masted · past half-masted · alternative half mast

1. transitiveTo fly a flag in this position.

   Synonyms: half-staff, semi