half-minute
The half of a minute; a space of thirty seconds; also half a minute. b. attrib. and Comb., as half-minute gun; half-minute glass (Naut.), a sand-glass which determines the time for the running out of the log-line.
| 1684 T. Burnet Th. Earth ii. 41 To calculate..an eclipse, to minutes and half-minutes. 1708 N. Frowde Life Adv. Voy. (1773) 140 Half minute Guns were fired the whole Time, and every other Honour shewn to his Memory. 1717 Frezier Voy. S. Sea 7 To answer the Half-minute Glass. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. s.v. Glass, Half-minute and quarter-minute glasses, used to ascertain the rate of the ship's velocity measured by the log. |