Mercy! Not half! (7)
I believe the answer is:
quarter
This might be a double definition.
'mercy' is the first definition.
(I know that quarter is a type of mercy)
'not half' is the second definition.
The definition and answer can be both quantities as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for quarter that I've seen before include "Fourth; part of town" , "A fourth - city district" , "Clemency" , "House" , "US coin" .)