Meaning of half-mast | Babel Free

Definitions

1. The lowered position, half the height of a mast, at which a flag is flown when mourning, especially expressing respect for the deceased.
   uncountable
2. The lowered position of anything.
   broadly, uncountable
3. An unfashionably short length of a pair of trousers.
   colloquial, uncountable
4. The state of having a partially erect penis.
   euphemistic, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“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.”

CEFR level