midsummer

English

noun
Definitions
  • The period around the summer solstice; about 21st June in the northern hemisphere.
  • The first day of summer
  • The middle of summer.
  • Midsummer Day, the English quarter day.
  • A pagan holiday or Wiccan Sabbat

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English midsomer inherited from Old English midsumer inherited from *midisumar inherited from Proto-Germanic *midjasumaraz (midsummer) pre from English summer (horizontal beam, pack horse).

Origin

English

summer

Gloss

horizontal beam, pack horse

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms