Green’s Dictionary of Slang

half-ass n.

[SE half + ass n. (2)]

(US) a stupid, incompetent person.

[US](con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 397: ‘I’m one of the halfbacks,’ said Phil. ‘Sure, he’s the All-American-Half-Ass,’ said Studs.
[US]H. Rawson Dict. of Invective (1991) 22: Commonly encountered subspecies, in addition to the previously mentioned smart ass, include complete ass, dumb ass, half ass, horse’s ass, stupid ass, and wise ass.