Halyday

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An archaic spelling of holiday, meaning a day set apart for religious observance or festivity rather than ordinary work
2. An old form of the word for a sacred day or feast on which people rest from labour and celebrate
3. A former name for a day of rest or celebration, especially one marked by a church feast or public festivity

Etymology: Before it meant a break from work, this word meant a day set apart for religious observance. It descends from Old English "hāligdæg", built from "hālig" ("holy") and "dæg" ("day"). Medieval English spelled it many ways, and "halyday" is one of those variant spellings, recorded before the form "holiday" became standard. The meaning of leisure came later. Feast days were usually days when ordinary work stopped, so the word gradually extended to any time off. The sense of a vacation or trip away from work is attested from the 18th and 19th centuries.