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.
2. Hist. = QUINDENE, QUINZIÈME 2.
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.
