Fortnight
/ˈfɔːrtnaɪt/noun
A period of two weeks.
Did you know?The concept of a fortnight has roots in Anglo-Saxon culture, where it was used to mark important agricultural and lunar cycles.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
feorðe niht
“The term meant 'fourth night', referring to a sequence of nights.”
Middle English
ME
fortnight
“A direct evolution from the Old English, used to denote a span of two weeks.”
14th Century
ME
fortnight
“Commonly used in legal and agricultural contexts to specify a two-week period.”
Modern English
English
fortnight
“Continues to be used widely in British English to denote a two-week interval.”