Michaelmas

English

Alternative forms

• Mihilmas (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English Michelmasse, Myghelmesse; equivalent to Michael +‎ -mas.

Pronunciation

• (General American, Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈmɪkəlməs/

Proper noun

Michaelmas (plural Michaelmases)

1. A Christian feast celebrated on the 29th of September in honour of the archangel Michael.
   • 1750, W[illiam] Ellis, The Country Housewife's Family Companion: Or Profitable Directions for Whatever Relates to the Management and Good Œconomy of the Domestick Concerns of a Country Life, According to the Present Practice of the Country Gentleman's, the Yeoman's, the Farmer's, &c. Wives, in the Counties of Hertford, Bucks, and Other Parts of England: Shewing how Great Savings may be Made in Housekeeping: [...] With Variety of Curious Matters [...] The Whole Founded on Near Thirty Years Experience, London: Printed for James Hodges, at the Looking-glass, facing St. Magnus Church, London-Bridge; and B. Collins, bookseller, at Salisbury, →OCLC, page 157:

     To make Capons […] [S]ome for this Purpoſe make it their Buſineſs after Harveſt-time to go to Markets for buying up Chickens, and between Michaelmas and All-hollantide caponize the Cocks, when they have got large enough to have Stones [i.e., testes] of ſuch a Bigneſs that they may be pulled out; for if they are too little, it can't be done; […]

2. (UK, Ireland, law, education) Ellipsis of Michaelmas term.

Synonyms

• Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels

Derived terms

• Michaelmas blackbird
• Michaelmas daisy (Aster amellus)
• Michaelmas term
• Old Michaelmas Day

Translations

Christian feast

• Bulgarian: Арахангелов ден m (Arahangelov den)
• Faroese: mikkjalsmessa f
• Finnish: mikkelinpäivä (fi)
• German: Michaelis n, Michaeli (de) n, Michaelstag m, Michaelistag m
• Ingrian: Mikkeli
• Irish: Lá Fhéile Michíl m
• Manx: Feaill' Vaayl f
• Middle English: Michelmasse
• Norman: Saint Miché f
• Russian: Миха́йлов де́нь m (Mixájlov dénʹ)
• Scottish Gaelic: Fèill Mìcheil f

See also

• Michaelmas on Wikipedia.Wikipedia