halve

Meaning

Verb

• To reduce to half the original amount.
• To divide into two halves.
• To make up half of.
• To join two pieces of timber etc. by cutting away each for half its thickness at the joining place, and fitting together.
• In match play, to achieve a tie or draw on.

Origin

• From Middle English halven, helven, from Old English hilfan, helfan, *hielfan, from Proto-West Germanic *halbijan, from Proto-Germanic *halbijaną, from Proto-Germanic *halbaz.
• Cognate with Middle Dutch halven, Middle High German halben, helben. Compare also West Frisian helte, Dutch halveren, German Low German halberen, German halbieren, Danish halvere, Swedish halvera.