May Day
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noun
the first day of May, long celebrated with various festivities, as the crowning of the May queen, dancing around the Maypole, and, in recent years, often marked by labor parades and political demonstrations.
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Origin of May Day
Middle English word dating back to 1225–75
Other definitions for May Day (2 of 2)
Mayday
[ mey-dey ]
/ ˈmeɪˌdeɪ /
noun
the international radiotelephone distress signal, used by ships and aircraft.
Origin of Mayday
1925–30; <French (venez) m'aider (come) help me!
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use May Day in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for May Day (1 of 2)
Mayday
/ (ˈmeɪˌdeɪ) /
noun
the international radiotelephone distress signal
Word Origin for Mayday
C20: phonetic spelling of French m'aidez help me
British Dictionary definitions for May Day (2 of 2)
May Day
noun
- the first day of May, traditionally a celebration of the coming of spring: in some countries now observed as a holiday in honour of workers
- (as modifier)May-Day celebrations
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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