1.
[syn: half-moon, lunula, lunule]
2. the time at which the Moon is at first or last quarter when half its face is illuminated;
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Half-moon \Half"-moon`\ (-m[=oo]n`), n.
1. The moon at the quarters, when half its disk appears
illuminated.
[1913 Webster]
2. The shape of a half-moon; a crescent.
[1913 Webster]
See how in warlike muster they appear,
In rhombs, and wedges, and half-moons, and wings.
--Milton.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Fort.) An outwork composed of two faces, forming a
salient angle whose gorge resembles a half-moon; -- now
called a ravelin.
[1913 Webster]
4. (Zool.) A marine, sparoid, food fish of California
(C[ae]siosoma Californiense). The body is ovate,
blackish above, blue or gray below. Called also
medialuna.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Ravelin \Rave"lin\ (r[a^]v"l[i^]n; 277), n. [F.; cf. Sp.
rebellin, It. revellino, rivellino; perhaps fr. L. re- again
+ vallum wall.] (Fort.)
A detached work with two embankments which make a salient
angle. It is raised before the curtain on the counterscarp of
the place. Formerly called demilune and half-moon.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
half-moon
n 1: the crescent-shaped area at the base of the human
fingernail [syn: half-moon, lunula, lunule]
2: the time at which the Moon is at first or last quarter when
half its face is illuminated