holiday

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A period of time spent away from work or school for rest or travel.

   We are going to Italy for our summer holiday.

2. 2
   noun

   A day when most people do not work, often to mark a special event.

   No mail is delivered on national holidays.

3. 3
   verb

   To spend a holiday somewhere.

   They holiday in Spain every year.

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”).

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