O.E.
Þurresdæg, perhaps a contraction (influenced by O.N.
Þorsdagr) of
Þunresdæg, lit. "Thor's day," from
Þunre, gen. of
Þunor "Thor" (see
Thor); from P.Gmc.
*thonaras daga- (cf. O.Fris.
thunresdei, M.Du.
donresdach, Du.
donderdag, O.H.G.
Donares tag, Ger.
Donnerstag "Thursday"), a loan-translation of L.
Jovis dies "day of Jupiter," identified with the Gmc. Thor (cf. It.
giovedi, O.Fr.
juesdi, Fr.
jeudi, Sp.
jueves), itself a loan-translation of Gk.
dios hemera "the day of Zeus."