half-inch

[ haf-inch, hahf- ]

noun

1. a half of an inch, equal to 1/24 of a foot (1.27 centimeters).

half-inch

noun

1. a measure of length approximately equivalent to 13 millimetres

verb

1. slang.
   to steal

Word History and Origins

Origin of half-inch¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Word History and Origins

Origin of half-inch¹

sense 2: from rhyming slang for pinch to steal

Example Sentences

If only I had another half-inch or so at the waist, I might even be comfortable.

From The Daily Beast

The bread bakes up only about a half-inch thick,” explain the Lee brothers, “which means the crust-to-crumb ratio is quite high.

From The Daily Beast

A one-half inch eye-piece, a micrometer eye-piece, and an attachable mechanical stage are very useful additions.

From Project Gutenberg

Even in his bare feet, which you saw with your own eyes, he'd overlap those prints a half inch all around.

From Project Gutenberg

The small end was a half-inch, perhaps, in bore, the big end perhaps three inches or less.

From Project Gutenberg

It groweth two foote and a halfe high or better: the blades are about two foot in length, and half inch broad.

From Project Gutenberg

To each of them was bent one of our two-and-a-half-inch hawsers.

From Project Gutenberg