holiday

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a day on which work is suspended by law or custom

   no mail is delivered on federal holidays

2. 2
   noun

   A day on which a religious event or secular celebration is traditionally observed.

   Near-synonyms: holy day, feast day, festival (feast day sense)

3. 3
   noun

   A period of one or more days taken off work for leisure and often travel; often plural.

   How much holiday are you allowed?

4. 4
   noun

   A period during which pupils do not attend their school; often plural; rarely used for students at university (usually: vacation).

   I want to take a French course this summer holiday.

5. 5
   noun

   A period during which, by agreement, the usual payments are not made.

   a mortgage payment holiday

6. 6
   name

   The holiday season or Christmas season, especially when paired with a year.

   Holiday 2014

7. 7
   noun

   leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure

8. 8
   verb

   spend or take a vacation

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kéh₂ilos Proto-Germanic *hailaz Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-Germanic *hailagaz Proto-Indo-European *dʰegʷʰ-? Proto-Germanic *dagaz Proto-Germanic *hailagadagaz Old English hāliġdæġ Middle English halyday English holiday From Middle English halyday, holyday, halidei, haliȝdei, from Old English hāliġdæġ (“holy day, Sabbath”), equivalent to holy + day. Compare West Frisian hjeldei (“holiday”), Danish helligdag (“holiday”), Norwegian helligdag (“holiday”), Swedish helgdag (“holiday, feast”).