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holiday
DCHP-2 (Dec 2012)
n.
a vacation from work or school for a limited period.
Type: 5. Frequency — Often used in the phrase "on holiday" or "on holidays" (see the 1977 and 1997 quotations), the term is marked "chiefly British" by W-3, s.v. "holiday" (2c), and AHD-5, s.v. "holiday" (3)). This particular sense of the term holiday as a synonym for "vacation" is a semantic change from 'a consecrated day, a religious festival' or a 'holy day' (see OED-3, s.v. "holiday" (1)). As seen in Chart 1, the term appears to be used most frequently in Canada, while it is rare in the US. On account of this frequency differential it can be considered Canadian in the North American context.
See also COD-2, s.v. "holiday" (2), which is marked "esp. Cdn, Brit., Austral. & NZ ".
See also COD-2, s.v. "holiday" (2), which is marked "esp. Cdn, Brit., Austral. & NZ ".
This term is often used in the plural form.
Quotations
1849
THE MISSES BROWN, 84, Church Street, INTEND to re-open their Classes after the Summer holidays, on MONDAY, 3rd Sept. The course of instruction will, as formerly be arranged for young Ladies who had made some advancement in their education, and no pupil under 12 years of age will be received.
1856
Yesterday the examinations preceding the summer holidays took place simultaneously in the several city schools, and on the whole they passed off very creditably to all parties.
1887
The physician complains of frequent headaches, becomes irritable, suffers from insomnia, and finds he is unable to do the usual amount of work; his memory fails, especially in details; bodily weakness, indigestion, inactivity of the liver appear to warn him of his doom in the near future unless he changes his mode of life. Finding himself unable to work, he takes a short holiday, feels improved, and returns to labor in the same way as before. Organic disease may now become developed.
1912
The operator at Rockwood, acting while the agent was on a holiday, forgot, it is alleged, to give holding orders to the way freight, and the two met head-on.
1925
No Holidays in Sight On recommendation of Business Administrator Pearse the committee decided against a request of the outside employees of the maintenance department for two weeks' holidays per year and 11 days' sick allowance. [...] Two weeks' holidays would cost the board $1,013 and sick allowance a similar sum.
1960
It is generally assumed that the long school holiday in summer is a mark of the influence of the farming community in the last century. It is also assumed that it remains today because nobody has the initiative to change it, and because the teaching profession likes the time off.
1977
He testified that the heroin in his possession was a "big buy" to which his RCMP contact had agreed. The RCMP contact, however, was on holidays when Mr. Kirzner made the buy and it was unclear whether he had been told to go ahead in the officer's absence.
1997
While the children's aid worker was on holiday, a foster mother became so concerned during a visit to the home that she phoned the children's aid society. The coroner said the aid society supervisor sent the family case worker a memo, apparently unaware the case worker was on holiday.
1999
"That's the first we've heard of it," Rooke said. "But I'm sure (coach) Wally Buono -- he's out of town on vacation right now -- will work it out with Alondra when he gets back from holidays."
Rooke said he's hopeful that Johnson, a nine-year Stampeder, can learn from the conviction and perhaps keep other people from making the same mistake.
2006
Alexandra Morton is petitioning B.C. Attorney General Wally Oppal to be allowed to continue her case with her own lawyer and her own money in a battle contending salmon farms are releasing sea lice into the marine environment and endangering wild salmon. Government spokespeople said Oppal was on holiday and unavailable for comment.
References
- COD-2
- W-3
- AHD-5
- OED-3
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