[fbu]

As a French speaker it make total sense to me; it just describes it.

I just searched quickly how to explain that the semi-colon is somehow half a colon. I couldn't find anything.

[michaelcampbell]

I'm not a French speaker, but those terms make perfect sense to me also, even though I've only just heard them here for the first time.

[sp332]

Maybe it has to do with the amount of time you pause when reading aloud? You pause for less time at a semi-colon then at a "full" colon.