Whitsunday

See also: Whit Sunday

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English Whitsonday, from whit (“white”) +‎ Sonday (“Sunday”), from Old English hwīt sunnandæg, probably from the white clothes worn by newly baptized Christians as Pentecost was a traditional date of baptism in early medieval England. Doublet of White Sunday.

Pronunciation

Noun

Whitsunday (plural Whitsundays)

  1. The Sunday of the feast of Pentecost, seven weeks after Easter
    • 1773, John Byrom, “On Whitsunday”, in Miscellaneous Poems:
      Jesus, ascended into Heav'n again/Bestow'd this won'drous Gift upon good Men/That various Nations, by his Spirit led,/All understood what Galileans said.
    • 2004, Vicki K Black, Welcome to the Church Year: An Introduction to the Seasons of the Episcopal Church:
      An older name for this day [Pentecost] is Whitsunday, or “white Sunday,” named for the white garments worn by the newly baptised.
  2. (Scotland) A quarter day, falling on 15th May

Derived terms

Translations

Proper noun

Whitsunday

  1. Whitsunday Region, a local government area in northern Queensland, Australia.
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