ˈhalf-note
1. Mus. † a. A half-tone; a semitone. Obs.
| 1597 Morley Introd. Mus. 3 The ♭ cliefe..is made thus ♭, or thus ♮, the one signifying the halfe note and flatt singing: the other signifying the whole note or sharpe singing. 1684 R.H. School Recreat. 120 These are named Semitones, or the Half Notes, which must be well observed. 1763 J. Brown Poetry & Mus. v. 64 The modern Chromatic Kind is an incidental Ascent or Descent by Half-Notes, with a variable Intervention of whole Notes. |
b. A minim.
| 1847 in Craig. |
2. The half of a bank-note, cut in two for safety in transmission by post.
| 1882–93 in Bithell Counting-house Dict. |