English
Yuletide
Yuletide may come from Old English *ġēoltīd ‘the Christmas season’.
- Old Englishc. 450–1150*ġēoltīd‘the Christmas season’literally ‘Christmas season’uncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1862Yuletide
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Old Englishc. 450–1150*ġēoltīd‘the Christmas season’literally ‘Christmas season’uncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1862Yuletide
Earliest quotation: 1862, modified from Thomas Oliphant's original, Deck the Halls: “Deck the halls with boughs of holly, / Fa…”
The story
Though attested late (c. 1475), probably dates back to Old English *ġēoltīd (literally “Christmas season”).
Every English word from Old English *ġēoltīd
Today it means
noun The period around Christmas; the Christmas season, Christmastime; specifically, Christmas itself.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old English *ġēoltīd / Yuletide