Search for: Christmas
541 Etymology dictionary, p. Grinch (n.).2
… Stole Christmas." Kipling used grinching (1892) in reference to a harsh, grating noise; and Grinch had been used as the surname of severe characters in fiction …
542 Etymology dictionary, p. guiser (n.).2
"masquerader, mummer, one who goes from house to house, whimsically disguised, and making diversion with songs and antics, usually at Christmas," late 15c., agent noun from guise .
543 Etymology dictionary, p. Hobbit (n.).3
… on Christmas Eve cannot see spirits. Denham was an early folklorist who concentrated on Northumberland, Durham, Westmoreland, Cumberland, the Isle of Man …
544 Etymology dictionary, p. holly (n.).2
… at Christmas, mid-15c., earlier holin (mid-12c.), shortening of Old English holegn, holen "holly," from Proto-Germanic *hulin- (source also of Old Saxon, Old High German …
545 Etymology dictionary, p. Jiminy (interj.).3
… Jiminy Christmas, from 1873). It was in dialogue in printed stories by 1880s and taken into the Pinocchio fairy tale by Disney (1940) to answer to Italian Il Grillo …
546 Etymology dictionary, p. Kiribati.2
… Gilbert. Christmas Island, named for the date it was discovered by Europeans, is in the chain and now goes by Kiritimati, likewise a local pronunciation of …
547 Etymology dictionary, p. Krampus (n.).2
also Krampusz, 1872, name of a Germanic folkloric figure who assists St. Nicholas at Christmas-time by punishing the wicked with abduction and/or flogging.
548 Etymology dictionary, p. mince (n.).2
"minced meat," 1850; see mincemeat. Mince-pie "pie made with minced meat, fruit, etc.," long associated in England with Christmas festivities, is attested from c. 1600; as rhyming slang for eye (n.) it is attested by 1857.
549 Etymology dictionary, p. misrule (n.).2
… over Christmas games in a great house (late 15c.). Related: Misruly .
550 Etymology dictionary, p. mistletoe (n.).3
… at Christmas and kissing under it is mentioned by Washington Irving. The alteration of the ending according to Century Dictionary is perhaps from a mistaking …
551 Etymology dictionary, p. mummer (n.).2
… at Christmas performing a kind of play, the subject being generally St. George and the Dragon, with sundry whimsical adjuncts" [Century Dictionary].
552 Etymology dictionary, p. Natalie.2
… Latin, "Christmas Day," from natalis "pertaining to birth or origin," from natus, past participle of nasci "to be born" (Old Latin gnasci ), from PIE root *gene- "give birth …
553 Etymology dictionary, p. nativity (n.).2
… Christ, Christmas," from Old French nativité "birth, origin, descent; birthday; Christmas" (12c.), from Late Latin nativitatem (nominative nativitas ) "birth," from …
554 Etymology dictionary, p. New Year's Eve.2
… banned Christmas, and continued so after England reverted to Christmas, hence the Scottish flavor ("Auld Lang Syne," etc.). New Year's gathering in public places …
555 Etymology dictionary, p. Nicholas.2
… with Christmas (died 326 C.E.) was a bishop of Myra in Lycia, patron of scholars, especially schoolboys. A popular given name in England in the Middle Ages (the …
556 Etymology dictionary, p. night (n.).4
… Weihnachten "Christmas," literally "holy night." In early times, the day was held to begin at sunset, so Old English monanniht "Monday night" was the night before …
557 Etymology dictionary, p. Noel (n.).2
… , nouel "Christmas, the Feast of the Nativity," from Old French noel "the Christmas season," variant of nael, from Latin natalis (dies) "birth (day)," used in Church Latin …
558 Etymology dictionary, p. pantomime (n.).3
… at Christmas and with words and songs and stock characters, are attested by this name from 1739; said to have originated c. 1717. Related: Pantomimic; pantomimical …
559 Etymology dictionary, p. putz (n.).2
… a Christmas tree" (1873), from Pennsylvania Dutch (German), which retains the old German sense.
560 Etymology dictionary, p. quarter day (n.).2
… ), and Christmas day (Dec. 25); in Scotland, keeping closer to the pre-Christian Celtic calendar, they were Candlemas (Feb. 2), Whitsunday (May 15), Lammas (Aug. 1), and Martinmas …