Meaning

The lowered position, half the height of a mast, at which a flag is flown when mourning, especially expressing respect for the deceased..

Definitions by Sense

1. The lowered position, half the height of a mast, at which a flag is flown when mourning, especially expressing respect for the deceased.
2. (by extension) The lowered position of anything.
3. (clothing, colloquial) An unfashionably short length of a pair of trousers.
4. (euphemistic) The state of having a partially erect penis.
5. (transitive) To fly a flag in this position.

Example Sentences

Any other UK national flags flown alongside the Union Flag when it is at half-mast should also be at half-mast.

He is to be cremated later Thursday at a ceremony likely to be attended by the country's top leadership. Flags were seen flying at half-mast in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. China's state news agency Xinhua reported that flags would be lowered at government buildings across mainland China, semi-autonomous regions of Hong Kong and Macau, and in consulates abroad.

I looked around. Ari in a green jacket with four inches of fore arm showing and trousers at half mast, Penny and I in mismatched padded jackets and ski trousers which were way too long; and all wearing the silver moon boots that had been the rage in the early eighties.

Finally, he was at half-mast, hanging out over the toilet seat, barely erect.

Word Forms

• half mast
• half-masts
• half-masting
• half-masted

Synonyms for half-mast

Related Words

When Should You Use Half-mast?

Use half-mast when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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