English Explanatory Dictionary

Boxing Day

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The day after Christmas; the 26th of December.
noun
  1. The day or days (boxing week) following Christmas (December 25th) when stores have large reductions.

Pronunciation

/ˈbɒksɪŋ deɪ/ En-Boxing Day.ogg /ˈbɑːksɪŋ deɪ/ en-au-Boxing Day.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-boxing day.wav

Word forms

Boxing Day Boxing Days

Etymology

Perhaps because of boxes that were placed outside churches to collect special offerings tied to St. Stephen's Day; or because of the old British custom of tradesmen collecting “Christmas boxes” of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service, mentioned by the English diarist Samuel Pepys (1633–1703).

Related words

Christmas Day Christmas Eve Proclamation Day St. Stephen’s Day Boxing Day Black Friday

Derived words

boxing day boxing week
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