Definition of "half-holiday" in English

noun

1. Half of a working or school day set aside for recreation on a special occasion.

   • 1784, obituary of Daniel Wray in The Gentleman’s Magazine, Volume 54, Part 1, p. 72, His memory is still reflected on with a degree of pleasure by some […] who can revive the long-buried ideas of what passed at that school about the year 1716 or 17; when Sir Daniel was always ready, if any body was wanted, to beg a half-holiday on Tuesday afternoons.

2. (historical) A religious festival lasting for half a day.