Haf

/hæf/ noun

Definition

Half, or a dialectal/archaic form meaning a portion or moiety, especially used in Scottish English.

Etymology

From Old English 'healf' meaning half or side, which also gave us the modern English word 'half'. The contracted form 'haf' appears in Scottish and Northern English dialects.

Kelly Says

The word 'half' has been in English for over a thousand years, and seeing it as 'haf' reminds us that 'half' used to have that guttural sound that's preserved in Scottish pronunciations today.

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