/moy"i tee/ , n. , pl. moieties .
1. a half.
2. an indefinite portion, part, or share.
3. Anthropol. one of two units into which a tribe or community is divided on the basis of unilineal descent.
[ 1400-50; late ME moite medietat- (s. of medietas ) the middle, equiv. to medi ( us ) mid + -etat-, var., after vowels, of -itat- -ITY ]