half-ˈholiday
Also 7 half-holyday.
† 1. A day which is considered only half a holy day; a saint's day or holy day other than Sunday.
| 1552 Huloet, Halfe holidaye, profestus. 1631 R. Byfield Doctr. Sabb. 140 The fourth Commandement..concerneth the Sabbath and not halfe holidaies. |
2. † a. The half of a holy day (used for recreation). b. The half (usually the latter half) of a working day, given up to recreation. c. A day of which the latter half is taken as a holiday. Also attrib.
| a 1631 Donne 80 Serm. vii. 75 What a poore halfe-holyday is Methusalems nine hundred yeares to eternity? 1826 in Hone Every-day Bk. II. 1195 Half-holiday school-boys. 1845 R. W. Hamilton Pop. Educ. v. (ed. 2) 109 Who does not rejoice in the weekly half-holiday, wherever it is allowed? 1885 Manch. Exam. 20 Mar. 8/4 The Saturday half holiday was another ameliorative measure. Mod. Wednesday and Saturday are half-holidays. |