'half-covered' is a compound of 'half' and 'covered'. 'half' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'healf', where it meant 'one of two equal parts'. 'covered' is the past participle of 'cover', which originates from Old French 'covrir'/'couvrir' and ultimately from Latin 'cooperire', where 'co-' meant 'together' and 'operire' meant 'to cover'.

'half' comes from Old English 'healf'; 'cover' entered English via Old French 'covrir' (Middle English 'coveren'), producing the past participle 'covered'. The modern compound 'half-covered' is a straightforward combination of these elements in Modern English.

Initially it referred simply to something being 'half' plus 'covered' (i.e., partly covered); this literal sense has remained stable and continues to mean 'partly covered'.