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.
In the case of human beings or animals the word dose is generally used but in the case of inanimate objects the word dosing is used. The term dose titration, referring to stepwise titration of doses until a desired level of effect is reached, is common in medicine.