May Day


noun
  1. the first day of May, long celebrated with various festivities, as the crowning of the May queen, dancing around the Maypole, and, in recent years, often marked by labor parades and political demonstrations.

Origin of May Day

1
First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English

Other definitions for Mayday (2 of 2)

Mayday
[ mey-dey ]

noun
  1. the international radiotelephone distress signal, used by ships and aircraft.

Origin of Mayday

2
First recorded in 1925–30; from French (venez) m'aider “(come) help me,” contraction of m(e) “me” (see also me ) aider “to help” (see aid )

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use May Day in a sentence

  • These my May-day reveries have begun lightly, and ended, as May-days themselves have done, in sad thoughts.

    Small Means and Great Ends | Edited by Mrs. M. H. Adams
  • Those four fatal May-days were filled as full of brave deeds as any days of the Civil War.

  • Who that was present does not think with joyous emotion of those Munich May-days of 1868?

    Life of Wagner | Louis Nohl

British Dictionary definitions for Mayday (1 of 2)

Mayday

/ (ˈmeɪˌdeɪ) /


noun
  1. the international radiotelephone distress signal

Origin of Mayday

1
C20: phonetic spelling of French m'aidez help me

British Dictionary definitions for May Day (2 of 2)

May Day

noun
    • the first day of May, traditionally a celebration of the coming of spring: in some countries now observed as a holiday in honour of workers

    • (as modifier): May-Day celebrations

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012