Halberd
(Hal"berd) n. [F. hallebarde; of German origin; cf. MHG. helmbarte, G. hellebarte; prob. orig.,
an ax to split a helmet, fr. G. barte a broad ax (orig. from the same source as E. beard; cf. Icel. barða,
a kind of ax, skegg beard, skeggja a kind of halberd) + helm helmet; but cf. also MHG. helm, halm,
handle, and E. helve. See Beard, Helmet.] (Mil.) An ancient long-handled weapon, of which the
head had a point and several long, sharp edges, curved or straight, and sometimes additional points.
The heads were sometimes of very elaborate form. [Written also halbert.]
Halberdier
(Hal`berd*ier") n. [F. hallebardier.] One who is armed with a halberd. Strype.
Halberd-shaped
(Hal"berd-shaped`) a. Hastate.
Halcyon
(Hal"cy*on) n. [L. halcyon, alcyon, Gr. "alkyw`n, 'alkyw`n: cf. F. halcyon.] (Zoöl.) A kingfisher.
By modern ornithologists restricted to a genus including a limited number of species having omnivorous
habits, as the sacred kingfisher (Halcyon sancta) of Australia.
Amidst our arms as quiet you shall be
As halcyons brooding on a winter sea.
Dryden. Halcyon
(Hal"cy*on), a.
1. Pertaining to, or resembling, the halcyon, which was anciently said to lay her eggs in nests on or
near the sea during the calm weather about the winter solstice.
2. Hence: Calm; quiet; peaceful; undisturbed; happy. "Deep, halcyon repose." De Quincy.
Halcyonian
(Hal`cy*o"ni*an) a. Halcyon; calm.
Halcyonoid
(Hal"cy*o*noid) a. & n. [Halcyon + -oid.] (Zoöl.) See Alcyonoid.
Hale
(Hale) a. [Written also hail.] [OE. heil, Icel. heill; akin to E. whole. See Whole.] Sound; entire; healthy; robust; not
impaired; as, a hale body.
Last year we thought him strong and hale.
Swift. Hale
(Hale), n. Welfare. [Obs.]
All heedless of his dearest hale.
Spenser. Hale
(Hale) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Haled (hald or h&addld); p. pr. & vb. n. Haling.] [OE. halen, halien; cf.
AS. holian, to acquire, get. See Haul.] To pull; to drag; to haul. See Haul. Chaucer.
Easier both to freight, and to hale ashore.
Milton.
As some dark priest hales the reluctant victim.
Shelley. Halesia
(||Ha*le"si*a) n. [NL.] (Bot.) A genus of American shrubs containing several species, called
snowdrop trees, or silver-bell trees. They have showy, white flowers, drooping on slender pedicels.
Half
(Half) a. [AS. healf, half, half; as a noun, half, side, part; akin to OS., OFries., & D. half, G. halb,
Sw. half, Dan. halv, Icel. halfr, Goth. halbs. Cf. Halve, Behalf.]
1. Consisting of a moiety, or half; as, a half bushel; a half hour; a half dollar; a half view.
The adjective and noun are often united to form a compound.
