fortnight

fort-night · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A period of two weeks (fourteen nights).

Forms

plural: fortnights

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    a fortnight ago — two weeks in the past
  • •
    in a fortnight — in two weeks' time
  • •
    fortnightly — occurring every two weeks

Related words

See also: biweekly, fortnightly, week
Synonyms: two weeks

Etymology

From Old English feowertyne niht ("fourteen nights"), a compound of feowertyne ("fourteen") and niht ("nights"). The Germanic practice of counting time by nights rather than days is reflected in this word.