quarter day

noun

1. (in England, Ireland, and Wales) one of the four days, Lady Day, Midsummer Day, Michaelmas, or Christmas, regarded as marking off the quarters of the year, on which quarterly payments are due, tenancies begin and end, etc.
2. (in Scotland) one of the four days, Candlemas, Whitsunday, Lammas, or Martinmas, regarded as marking off the quarters of the year.

quarter day

noun

1. any of four days in the year when certain payments become due. In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland these are Lady Day, Midsummer's Day, Michaelmas, and Christmas. In Scotland they are Candlemas, Whit Sunday, Lammas, and Martinmas

Word History and Origins

Origin of quarter day¹

First recorded in 1470–80

Example Sentences

It was one of the “quarter days” when rents and taxes had to be settled by.

From Seattle Times

Earth actually takes 365.2422 days to complete one trip around the sun, and as a result our calendar falls behind by about a quarter day each year.

From National Geographic

In 2015, a homicide was reported in the District roughly once every two and a quarter days.

From Washington Post

They stayed, on average, an extra quarter day in the hospital and racked up $155 to $1,576 more in costs.

From Reuters

Or even nine and a quarter days of solid, matchsticks-holding-up-the-eyelids Dickens time.

From BBC