half inchn.adj.
/ˌhɑːf ˈɪn(t)ʃ/, U.S. /ˌhæf ˈɪn(t)ʃ/ A. n.
A length, breadth, depth, etc., of half an inch.
Π
1439–40 Rolls of Parl.: Henry VI (Electronic ed.) Parl. Nov. 1439 §55. m. 2 The said lyne markid at every yerde an ynche, and at the ende of the half yerde and half ynch.
c1475 ( Surg. Treat. in MS Wellcome 564 f. 64 (MED) But loke þat þou be well war þat þi sticchis haue good hold, as at þe leeste half ynche or more.
?1537 R. Benese Bk. Measurynge Lande sig. Xiii Then take. vi. ynches, halfe ynche, quarter ynche.
1672 E. Ravenscroft Citizen turn'd Gentleman iv. i. 65 I am a Gentleman every half inch of me.
1737 Med. Ess. & Observ. (Philos. Soc. Edinb.) (ed. 2) II. xxi. 312 A large Bone, more than an Inch and a half in length, and a large half inch in breadth.
1778 Philos. Trans. 1777 (Royal Soc.) 67 685 The first or left-hand column, shews the height of the barometer for every half inch, from 31 to 25.
1887 C. M. Woodward Man. Training School ii. 55 In roughing-off corners, cut lengths of about a half inch at a time.
1925 Woman's World (Chicago) Apr. 38/2 Every half inch a small square is left without the stitches.
1965 P. Wilson Outcasts 161 The curious townspeople who were pressing up against the truck moved back a mere half inch.
2003 L. Block Small Town 7 A pair of rocks glasses, one holding a half inch of pale amber liquid.
B. adj. (in attributive use).
Frequently with hyphen. Measuring half an inch; half an inch long, broad, deep, etc.
Π
1613 M. Ridley Short Treat. Magneticall Bodies xxxviii. 138 Set the figures on the outer space in the limbe vnto euery tenth part..after a little halfe inch distance.
1615 G. Markham Eng. House-wife (1668) ii. v. 133 An half inch boord.
1743 W. Hume Geodœsia Accurata iv, in H. Wilson Surveying Improv'd (new ed.) 417 You may also have reversedly described upon the same Ruler, an half Inch Scale.
1820 W. Scoresby Acct. Arctic Regions II. 194 Defended by plates of half-inch iron.
1913 N.Y. Times 23 Mar. x. 10 This is a half-inch slice cut from a steak showing the minimum of bone.
1960 Kew Bull. 14 86 The material is cut into half inch cubes and placed in 95 per cent industrial alcohol..for about 24 hours.
2018 M. Khan I am Thunder ii. 9 You got a half-inch willy and zero pubes, bruh!
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2022).
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n.adj.1439