Halloween
or Hal·low·e'en
[hal-uh-ween, -oh-een, hol-]
- the evening of October 31; the eve of All Saints' Day; Allhallows Eve: observed especially by children in costumes who solicit treats, often by threatening minor pranks.
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Origin of Halloween
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Halloween
Hallowe'en
- the eve of All Saints' Day celebrated on Oct 31 by masquerading; Allhallows Eve
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Word Origin
C18: see Allhallows, even ²
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for hallowe'en
Halloween
c.1745, Scottish shortening of Allhallow-even "Eve of All Saints, last night of October" (1550s), the last night of the year in the old Celtic calendar, where it was Old Year's Night, a night for witches. A pagan holiday given a cursory baptism and sent on its way. See hallow; also cf. hallows.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper