Half-mast

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

half-mast
    n 1: a position some distance below the top of a mast to which a
         flag is lowered in mourning or to signal distress [syn:
         {half-mast}, {half-staff}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Half-mast \Half"-mast`\ (-m[.a]st`), n.
   A point some distance below the top of a mast or staff; as, a
   flag a half-mast (a token of mourning, etc.).
   [1913 Webster]

[email protected]