subs. phr. (familiar).—Formerly the night; darkness: now the time ‘between lights’ when it is too dark to see, but often not dark enough to light up, and a rest from work may be taken. On the other hand some think the expression a corruption of ‘blind-man’s all-day.’
1598. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Feriáto, vacancy from labour, rest from worke, BLINDMAN’S HOLYDAY.
1599. NASHE, Lenten Stuffe [GROSART, Works, V., 263]. And what will not blinde Cupid doe in the night which is his BLINDMANS HOLIDAY?
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. BLIND-MAN’S-HOLIDAY, when it is too dark to see to work.
1738. SWIFT, Polite Conversation, conv. iii. Indeed, madam, it is BLINDMAN’S HOLIDAY; we shall soon be all of a colour.
1824. JOHN WADE (‘Thomas Fielding’), Select Proverbs, p. 148. BLINDMAN’S HOLIDAY.
1866. Aunt Judy’s Magazine, Oct., 358. At meal times, or in BLINDMAN’S HOLIDAY, when no work was to be done.
