red-letter day
/ˌredˈletə deɪ/
noun
Origin
Latin
rubricae — red ochre, red ink
Overview
Meaning Now
- A day that is pleasantly noteworthy, memorable, or auspicious.
Literal older meaning
A day marked in red ink on a liturgical calendar.
Language path
Latin → Middle English → English
Earliest form
red letter
Earliest period
15th century
Journey
The term originates from the custom in medieval church calendars of printing the names of holy days and saints' feast days in red ink, while ordinary days were written in black. This made important holy days immediately visible, hence 'red-letter days'.
Evolution
- Medieval Latin
dies rubrica
“day marked in red”
Ecclesiastical calendars marking feast days in red ink.
- Middle English
red letter
“festal day”
Reference to red-letter days in the church calendar.
- 18th century
red-letter day
“any lucky or auspicious day”
Figurative usage established in secular contexts.
Connections
Word parts
red
root
red color
letter
root
character/inscription
day
root
period of 24 hours
Related across languages
French
rubrique
heading or category (originally in red)
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Related to red-letter day
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.