half-cock
Hammer's safety position
Half-cock is the position of a gun's hammer when partially drawn back, locked but not ready to fire—a safety position that prevents accidental discharge.
The phrase go off half-cocked or go off at half-cock means to act prematurely or without proper preparation, like a gun firing before it's fully ready.
Tool for striking nails
- triggerWhat initiates action
- safetyFreedom from harm
- misfireFailure to discharge
- loadedWeighted or wealthy
discharge · mechanism · lock · flintlock · musket · pistol · catch · sear
Occurring before expected
- unpreparedLacking readiness beforehand
- hastyExcessively quick, ill-considered
- rashHeedless or skin irritation
- impulsiveActing without deliberation
botched · bungled · ill-timed · unready · incomplete · careless · thoughtless · rushed
hammer
Tool for striking nails
loaded · discharge · mechanism · lock · flintlock · musket · pistol · catch · sear · firing
premature
Occurring before expected
- unpreparedLacking readiness beforehand
- hastyExcessively quick, ill-considered
- rashHeedless or skin irritation
impulsive · botched · bungled · ill-timed · unready · incomplete · careless · thoughtless · rushed · blunder
- caplock partscaplock, percussion cap, nipple, hammer, mainspring
- gun partsbarrel, barrels, trigger, triggers, bolt
half-cockcocked
Tilted or primed
armed · uncocked · at rest · hammer down · safe
half-cockready
Suitable for use now
locked and loaded · primed · deliberate · calculated · measured
half-cocklocked and loaded
Fully prepared to fire
battle-ready · at the ready · primed · armed · loaded
half, halves, halved, halving, halfway, halfback, cock, cocks, cocked