What is "half back"

Half \Half\ (h[aum]f), a. [AS. healf, half, half; as a noun, half, side, part; akin to OS., OFries., & D. half, G. halb, Sw. half, Dan. halv, Icel. h[=a]lfr, 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.

   Note: The adjective and noun are often united to form a compound.

2. Consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half; approximately a half, whether more or less; partial; imperfect; as, a half dream; half knowledge. Assumed from thence a half consent. --Tennyson. Half ape (Zo["o]l.), a lemur. Half back. (Football) See under 2d Back. Half bent, the first notch, for the sear point to enter, in the tumbler of a gunlock; the halfcock notch. Half binding, a style of bookbinding in which only the back and corners are in leather. Half boarder, one who boards in part; specifically, a scholar at a boarding school who takes dinner only. Half-breadth plan (Shipbuilding), a horizontal plan of one half a vessel, divided lengthwise, showing the lines. Half cadence (Mus.), a cadence on the dominant. Half cap, a slight salute with the cap. [Obs.] --Shak. At half cock, the position of the cock of a gun when retained by the first notch. Half hitch, a sailor's knot in a rope; half of a clove hitch. Half hose, short stockings; socks. Half measure, an imperfect or weak line of action. Half note (Mus.), a minim, one half of a semibreve. Half pay, half of the wages or salary; reduced pay; as, an officer on half pay. Half price, half the ordinary price; or a price much reduced. Half round.

   1. (Arch.) A molding of semicircular section.

   2. (Mech.) Having one side flat and the other rounded; -- said of a file.

      Half shift (Mus.), a position of the hand, between the open position and the first shift, in playing on the violin and kindred instruments. See Shift.

      Half step (Mus.), a semitone; the smallest difference of pitch or interval, used in music.

      Half tide, the time or state of the tide equally distant from ebb and flood.

      Half time, half the ordinary time for work or attendance; as, the half-time system.

      Half tint (Fine Arts), a middle or intermediate tint, as in drawing or painting. See Demitint.

      Half truth, a statement only partially true, or which gives only a part of the truth.
      --Mrs. Browning.

      Half year, the space of six months; one term of a school when there are two terms in a year.

Back \Back\ (b[a^]k), n. [AS. b[ae]c, bac; akin to Icel., Sw., & LG. bak, Dan. bag; cf. OHG. bahho ham, Skr. bhaj to turn, OSlav. b[=e]g[u^] flight. Cf. Bacon.]

1. In human beings, the hinder part of the body, extending from the neck to the end of the spine; in other animals, that part of the body which corresponds most nearly to such part of a human being; as, the back of a horse, fish, or lobster.

2. An extended upper part, as of a mountain or ridge.

   [The mountains] their broad bare backs upheave Into the clouds.
   --Milton.

3. The outward or upper part of a thing, as opposed to the inner or lower part; as, the back of the hand, the back of the foot, the back of a hand rail.

   Methought Love pitying me, when he saw this, Gave me your hands, the backs and palms to kiss.
   --Donne.

4. The part opposed to the front; the hinder or rear part of a thing; as, the back of a book; the back of an army; the back of a chimney.

5. The part opposite to, or most remote from, that which fronts the speaker or actor; or the part out of sight, or not generally seen; as, the back of an island, of a hill, or of a village.

6. The part of a cutting tool on the opposite side from its edge; as, the back of a knife, or of a saw.

7. A support or resource in reserve.

   This project Should have a back or second, that might hold, If this should blast in proof.
   --Shak.

8. (Naut.) The keel and keelson of a ship.

9. (Mining) The upper part of a lode, or the roof of a horizontal underground passage.

10. A garment for the back; hence, clothing. [Obs.]

    A bak to walken inne by daylight.
    --Chaucer.

    Behind one's back, when one is absent; without one's knowledge; as, to ridicule a person behind his back.

    Full back, Half back, Quarter back (Football), players stationed behind those in the front line.

    To be on one's back or To lie on one's back, to be helpless.

    To put one's back up or to get one's back up, to assume an attitude of obstinate resistance (from the action of a cat when attacked). [Colloq.]

    To see the back of, to get rid of.

    To turn the back, to go away; to flee.

    To turn the back on one, to forsake or neglect him.

A halfback, half back, or half-back may refer to:

• Stand-off half back/Five-eighth in rugby league football
• Scrum-half (rugby league)
• The rugby union positions fly-half and scrum-half
• Half back (association football), an obsolete position
  • Centre-back
  • Wing half
• Halfback (American football), a type of running back
• Halfback (Canadian football), a type of defensive back
• Half-back line in Australian rules football