Under a franchise arrangement, a person or company purchases the ability to run a local business under a larger company's brand. Depending on the franchise arrangement, the local party may have to meet certain standards established by the larger company and purchase products from the larger company as well.
Half-cock is when the position of the hammer is partially but not completely cocked.
A drug's half-life is the amount of time it takes for a drug to lose half of its strength in blood plasma. This is most easily measured in medications administered through an injection or IV drip. The half-life refers to the time it takes for half of a given dose to be eliminated from the body or bloodstream.