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half-mast

[ haf-mast, hahf-mahst ]

noun

  1. a position approximately halfway between the top of a mast, staff, etc., and its base.


verb (used with object)

  1. to place (a flag) at half-mast, as a mark of respect for the dead or as a signal of distress.

half-mast

noun

  1. the lower than normal position to which a flag is lowered on a mast as a sign of mourning or distress


verb

  1. tr to put (a flag) in this position

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Word History and Origins

Origin of half-mast1

First recorded in 1620–30

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Compare Meanings

How does half-mast compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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Example Sentences

The failure to fly a flag at half mast was widely interpreted as an expression of disrespect.

Outside, somebody had taken care to lower the flags to half-mast.

Flags will be flown at half mast on UK government buildings and British embassies from 8am to 8pm on the day of the funeral.

If a male performer is only flying at half-mast, he may have to spend more time trying to get ready than actually performing.

Flags at the border crossing and private homes fly at half-mast in honor of Ivie.

We have found such a one, and our hat is at half-mast in token of profound esteem and conscious inferiority.

Wherever his death is made known, the public business stops, and flags drop half-mast down.

The storm is raging; Virginia has hung her flag at half-mast as a signal of distress.

A number of men, however, came to the schoolhouse and raised the old flag until it hung at half mast.

Her most faithful admirer, Consul Jansen, turned up with a big bunch of flowers, and hoisted the flag in his garden at half-mast.

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