rare. [a. F. quinzaine, a set of fifteen things, a period of fifteen days, f. quinze: see next.
Blount Glossogr. (1656) has ‘Quinzain (Fr.) a term or delay of fifteen days; also a staff of fifteen verses.’ Through Phillips, Bailey, &c., the latter sense has passed into mod. Dicts., but there is no evidence that it has ever been in actual Eng. use. In sense 2 quinzaine represepts AF. quinzein, for quinzime QUINZIÈME.]
1. A fortnightly event, meeting, etc. rare–1.
1856. Mrs. Hawthorne, in N. Hawthorne & Wife (1885), II. 85. Aunt Sue intended to have Quinzaines (fortnightly soirées) this winter.
1863. J. R. Walbran, Mem. Fountains Abbey (Surtees Soc.), 143. The military levies granted in the Parliament at Lincoln in the Quinzaine of St. Hiliary 9 Edw. II.
1899. R. R. Sharpe, Cal. Let. Bk., A. 16. £12 10s. for wine, to be paid in the quinzaine of St. Michael [1277]. Ibid., 17. £9 for leather;… to be paid in the quinzaine of Easter.
