halfpiece

The halfpiece is a noun used in English to describe an item that constitutes only one half of a paired unit. It is not a widely standardized term; meanings vary by field.

In manufacturing and product design, a halfpiece refers to a modular component intended to be joined with a complementary half to create a complete part, such as in furniture, cabinetry, or snap-fit assemblies. The term emphasizes symmetry or complementary geometry.

In puzzles, crafts, and some games, a halfpiece can denote a segment that completes a larger image or mechanism when paired with its match; for example, a jigsaw-like half-piece of a motif.

In linguistics or writing, halfpiece is occasionally used informally to describe a phrase or clause that functions as half of a compound structure; not standard terminology.

See also: half, piece, fragment, component.