half-staff/half a crook

[sherishine]

"He has various postures with the gun—half-staff, half a crook for his elbows when it is over his shoulders. He will turn, suddenly realizing she is watching him. He is a survivor of his fears, will step around anything suspicious, acknowledging her look in this panorama as if claiming he can deal with it all. "


What does half-staff mean?

[Gnome]

Hello, I'm not a teacher.

Where did this passage come from?

[sherishine]

The English Patient. Michael Ondaatje.

[sherishine]

Is there anybody knows something about"half-staff"?

Please help me ~~~~>_<~~~~