Obs. Forms: 6 twelfe tyde, 6–7 twelftide, twelfetide (in 7 also with hyphen), 6–8 twelftyde, (7 twelvetide). (Twelfthtide occurs app. only in modernized editions.) [See TIDE sb. 4 b, 6.] The season including Twelfth-night and Twelfth-day; the season of Epiphany: formerly the concluding part of the Christmas holidays.
1530. Palsgr., 283/2. Twelftyde, la typhayne.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., IV. xix. 159. That there be no mariages celebrate … from Aduent to Twelftide.
1632. Massinger & Field, Fatal Dowry, II. ii. As if he had come this Christmas … To see his friends, and returned after twelf-tide.
1656. Finett, For. Ambass., 48. A mask prepared for twelftyde.
1687. Lond. Gaz., No. 2301/3. It will not be before Twelvetide.
attrib. 1639. S. Du Verger, trans. Camus’ Admir. Events, 64. Like a right Twelfetide King.
1648. Herrick, New-yeares Gift to Sir S. Steward, 17. Of twelf-tide cakes, of pease, and beanes, Wherewith ye make those merry sceanes, When as ye chuse your king and queen.
