halfcock

alternative half cock · alternative half-cock

1. uncountableengineeringThe position when the cock of a gun is at the first notch.

   This was bad both for the alibi reshoots it caused and subsequent delays in a match, but if the hammer fell to halfcock enough times, the half-cock notch would mar the sear tip, adversely affecting trigger pull.

   2010, Patrick Sweeney, 1911 The First 100 Years: The First 100 Years

present singular third person halfcocks · participle present halfcocking · participle past halfcocked · past halfcocked · alternative half cock · alternative half-cock

1. engineeringTo set the cock of a firearm at the first notch.