weekend

Definition

The break in the working week, usually two days including the traditional holy or sabbath day. Thus in Western countries, Saturday and Sunday.

Etymology

From week + end. Originally a Northern England regionalism (see 1903 quotation), in more general use from late 19th century. Compare Saterland Frisian Wiekeneende (“weekend”), West Frisian wykein (“weekend”), Dutch weekeinde (“weekend”), German Low German Wekenenn (“weekend”), German Wochenende (“weekend”).

Example Sentences

• "“They can live upon barley-meal without a morsel of meat from week-end to week-end, can these miserable Sawnies,” quoth another."
• "[…] often took a few boys down there for what we North Country folk call the week-end — Saturday and Sunday; it was also used as a sanatorium if required."
• "I love a phrase of Dizzy's in one of his later letters to Lady Bradford, whom he reproaches for her addiction to what we now call week-end visits to country houses: “the monotony of organized platitude.”"

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