| 释义 |
half-pay
1. Half the usual or full wages or salary; a reduced allowance to an officer in the army or navy when not in actual service, or after retirement at a prescribed time.
1664Pepys Diary 30 Nov., The Dutch having called in their fleete and paid their men half-pay. 1749Refut. Pamph. Navy Bill 10 Every Officer, whilst he receives the Half-pay, is bound to enter upon Service. 1753Scots Mag. May 261/2 Cashier and Paymaster of the Half-pay. 1823Byron Juan viii. ciii, No hero trusteth wholly to half pay. 1844Regul. & Ord. Army 65 Officers upon the Half-Pay who are desirous of being employed upon Full Pay, are to report their wish to the Military Secretary.
2. An officer in receipt of half-pay.
1826Ann. Reg. 170/2 Now, like the other half-pays in London, he must live on plates of beef and goes of gin for the next seven years. 1865Pall Mall G. 21 Aug. 10/2 The half-pays..have come over in great force.
3. attrib., as half-pay officer, etc.
1715Duke of Marlborough 30 June in Lond. Gaz. No. 5343/1 Filled up with a half Pay Officer. 1727Somerville Poems 68 (Jod.) Half-pay captains and half-witted beaux. 1889A. T. Pask Eyes Thames 163 Englishmen with small means, of what might be termed the half-pay class. |