half-century

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half-century (plural half-centuries)

1. A period of fifty years, half of a century.
   • 1962 March, J. M. Tolson, “The Netherlands Railways today—I: The economic development of the Netherlands Railways”, in Modern Railways, page 170:

     The Dutch population has grown rapidly in the last half-century and its increase has been matched by an expansion of industry, with the result that the same period has seen the Netherlands develop from a mainly agricultural to an industrial country.

2. (cricket) A score of 50 runs by a single batsman
   • 2009 January 30, AAP, “Vics make great start despite Rogers loss”, in Herald Sun‎:

     He brought up his half-century with a powerful drive past offspinner Dan Cullen, whose seven overs cost 0-52.

3. (sports) A score of 50 points in a single game.

• (period of 50 years): semicentury, semicentennial

• quarter-century