English

half

/ˈhɑːf/

One of two usually roughly equal parts into which anything may be divided, or considered as divided.

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Origin

From Middle English half, halfe from Old English healf (“half”); as a noun, 'half', 'side', 'part', from Proto-West Germanic *halb, from Proto-Germanic *halbaz.

Cognates

Cognate with Old Saxon, Old Frisian, and Old Dutch half, West Frisian heal, Dutch half, German halb, Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish halv, Icelandic hálfur and Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐌱𐍃 (halbs). Compare halve, behalf.

From Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Lineage

inheritedMiddle Englishhalf

Related: Old Dutch half, West Frisian heal, Dutch half, German halb, da,nb,nn,sv halv, Icelandic hálfur, Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐌱𐍃

Words built on it: half-world

Meanings

noun

One of two usually roughly equal parts into which anything may be divided, or considered as divided.
One of two equal periods into which a game is divided.
One of the two opposite parts of the playing field of various sports, in which each starts the game.
half a pint of beer or cider. (Refusing a pint) Just a half, thank you. (Offering to top up a pint glass) Do you want a half in that? (Minimizing the amount of drink taken) A swift half at the Pear Tree.
A barrel measure of 27 gallons (half a hogshead).
The fraction obtained by dividing 1 by 2.

adj

Consisting of a half (½, 50%).
Consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half; approximately a half, whether more or less; partial; imperfect.
Having one parent (rather than two) in common.
Related through one common grandparent or ancestor rather than two.

adv

In two equal parts or to an equal degree.
In some part approximating a half.
Partially; imperfectly.
Practically, nearly.

verb

To halve.

Sources

Wiktionary (via Wiktextract / kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
Wiktionary: half