half cock
Safety hammer position
Half cock is the position of a gun's hammer when partially drawn back, where it catches on a safety notch and cannot fire.
A gun at half cock is neither fully ready nor fully safe.
The phrase go off half-cocked means to act prematurely or without adequate preparation—like a gun firing before being properly set.
- triggerWhat initiates action
- hair triggerUltra-responsive firing mechanism
- hammerTool for striking nails
- firing pinPrimer-striking gun component
- firearmProjectile weapon using explosives
safety · gun · ready position · jump the gun · hasty · partial · position · pull the trigger · lock · mechanism · pistol · rifle · shotgun · notch · catch · sear · misfire · discharge
- caplock partscaplock, percussion cap, nipple, hammer, mainspring
- antique firearmsmusket, matchlock, muzzleloader, harquebus, Brown Bess
- gun partsbarrel, barrels, trigger, triggers, bolt
half cockcocked
Tilted or primed
armed · uncocked · hammer down · safe · at rest
half cockready
Suitable for use now
all set · locked and loaded · primed · at the ready · standing down
half cockready
Suitable for use now
locked and loaded · well-planned · deliberate · premeditated · thought out
half, halves, halved, halving, halfway, halfback, cock, cocks, cocked