half-caste

(hif’kast),n.and a. I, ». 1. A per- son of mixed European and Asiatic parentage; especially, in India, a person born of a native mother and a Portuguese or French father. See Lurasian. An invalid sergeant came, attended by his wife, a very pretty young half-caste. Bp. Heber, Journey through Upper Provinces o Pails, 2. By extension, any half-breed; especially, one born of a European parent and a native parent of different race in the country of the latter. Othello is black; the very tragedy lies there:... the whole pathos, and extenuation of his doubts of Des demon a, depend on this blackne . Fechter makes him a half caste. G. H. Lewes, Actors and the Art of Acting. Much as we admired the Maori race, we were even more struck by the half-caste. The Century, XX VII. 919. II, a. Born of mixed European and Asiatic or other native parentage. They [the Mahratta infantry] are commanded by hal/- east people, of Portuguese and French extraction. Dirom, Campaign in India, p. 11. And there is the half-caste child, the lisping chee-chee, or Eur asian. J. W. Palmer, The New and the Old, p. 340. half-cent (hif’sent’), ». A copper coin of the United States, of the value of zp of a dollar, and weighing 94 grains, current from 1793 to 1857.