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Definition of half cock
1 : the position of the hammer of a firearm when about half retracted and held by the sear so that it cannot be operated by a pull on the trigger
2 chiefly British : a state of inadequate preparation or mental confusion
go off at half cock
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Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
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Time Traveler for half cock
The first known use of half cock was in 1745
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