Okay, it’s from the medieval fortenight meaning forteen nights, but what exactly was going on back then every 14 nights like clockwork that we needed a term to describe it? (And don’t try to tell me it was payday)
What is more, in my initial search for the truth, I noticed none of the reference books listed this term as obscure. Does that mean its still in general use today?
In·flam·ma·ble, a. Flammable.
I think it has something to do with the phases of the moon. Unfortunately, I don’t more about it (or much else, for that matter).
It was the term of service a militiaman would spend every year manning the local strongpoint.
From what i gather, nothing really happened to necessitate a marker of two weeks, it was just another convention in the same way a month or a week is. And, yes, it is still widely used, especially in the UK.
What in the world for?..
I’ll see you in a fortnight?.. I’m going on vacation for a fortnight?.. I just bought a car two fortnights ago?.. It looks like we’re in for three more fortnights of winter because of that damned groundhod?.. Meet me under the boardwalk in a fortnight?
In·flam·ma·ble, a. Flammable.
What’s so perplexing about using the word fortnight? IIRC from when I lived in the U.K. [3 years] it’s not generally used for precise event scheduling–otherwise you would indeed say “let’s meet on the 25th at 6:30.” Two weeks is a nice estimate for indefinite near future or recent past [as in “Oh, when was that? About a fortnight ago” or “see you in a fortnight”.] To me it’s no weirder than saying “a couple of weeks.”
How 'bout that other Britishism, in which the word “week” indicates a week from that day; i.e., “Wednesday week” = “a week from this Wednesday”? I always thought that one was pretty nifty but have never been able to pull it off with my American accent.
Yeah, I use fortnight all the time. It’s a perfectly commonly used term back in New Zealand. Just as Salieri says, it has a lot of use, and Opus’ first couple of examples are exactly how they are phrased.
-PIGEONMAN-
I’ve heard fortnight used recently, particularly on British television shows. (Sorry, “programmes”.)
As for why there is a term, maybe medieval people got paid every 2 weeks, like I do now. Sounds cooler than “biweekly”.
and, there was a similar phrase for a week - a “sennight” - contraction of seven-night. I think it’s fallen into disuse, though, and only week is now used?
and the stars o’erhead were dancing heel to toe
A better question is why Americans abandoned the term?
I can just hear the founding fathers:
“We won’t have your bloody tea, and we won’t have your bloody fortenights!”
(whispered conference)
“Oh, and we won’t be using your damn swearwords anymore either!”
Sofa King, can you cite your source? I’m not being evil. It really sounds like you have a neat explanation. The Columbia Encyclopedia flat skips over fortnight and moves from Fort Niagara to Fort Peck Dam.
However the Oxford Dictionary points out that proper British use refers to two weeks after a day specified.
Example: Tuesday fortnight means two weeks after Tuesday.
Oh, hang on…
Old English: feowertene niht means fourteen nights.
I still think Sofa King’s answer was neater.