play-dayn.

1558 in R. Adam Edinb. Rec. (1899) I. 273 For ane hors hous quhilk was tynt on the play day.

1574 in A. J. Mill Mediaeval Plays in Scotl. (1927) 176 Strublance..vpone the Sabbothe day, being also the playday and maist confluence of peple convenit thairto.

1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 555 Worse than either of these is he, who doth that vpon work days which should haue bin don on play-daies or idle holidaies.

1649 in S. Ree Rec. Elgin (1908) II. 436 Playdays only Tuesday and Thursday tuixt tuo and four afternoon and Saturnday tuixt tuo and fywe.

1655 in E. Nicholas Nicholas Papers (1892) II. 334 He wrote of the sending of Maynard, Windham and Twisden to the Towre; he said it was a strange playdaye.

1700 in J. Stuart Extracts Council Reg. Aberdeen (1872) II. 331 The first three lawfull dayes of Januarie be allowed to the schollars for play dayes, instead of the Yooll vaicance.

a1716 R. South 12 Serm. (1717) VI. 396 The Soul's Play-day is always the Devil's working Day, and the idler the Man, still the busier the Tempter.

1768 J. Wesley Wks. (1872) XIII. 285 We have no play-days (the school being taught every day in the year but Sundays).

1816 W. Wheeler Let. 25 Mar. (1951) 195 Major Thwaits..is to allow the men two play days a week... After the cleaning apointments [sic]..the day is devoted to..boxing, wrestling, running..and any other amusement.

1876 J. Grant Hist. Burgh Schools Scotl. ii. v. 172 In 1763 the play-days at the grammar school of Kinghorn were fixed as the afternoons of every Wednesday and Saturday.

1901 Daily Mail 7 Nov. 3/4 The miners obeyed their leaders as implicitly as they did on..the three previous ‘play-days’.

1932 Jrnl. Higher Educ. 3 107/2 The faculty..each year hold a playday for their students.

1991 Incentive Today Oct. 71/3 During an average lifetime, the proud owner of an efficient dishwasher would save themselves one year and three months at the sink! Makes you think, doesn't it, just imagine all those extra play-days you can have!

2004 Pensacola (Florida) News Jrnl. (Nexis) 23 Aug. 2 b Nonprofit organization for at-home mothers, monthly meetings with speakers, discussions, park playdays, playgroups and more.

c1563 in E. K. Chambers Mediæval Stage (1903) II. App. W. 346 Inprms paid unto the Mynstrolls for the Show day and for the play day.

1592 in C. W. Wallace First London Theatre (1913) 114 To the Theater vppon A playe-daye to stand at the dor that goeth vppe to the gallaries of the said Theater.

1761 in G. C. D. Odell Ann. N.Y. Stage (1927) I. iv. 83 Those ladies who would have places kept in the boxes will please to send a sensible servant to the theatre at three o'clock on every play-day.

1888 G. O. Seilhamer Hist. Amer. Theatre I. xi. 111 Mr. Allyn's benefit took place on Saturday, instead of the regular play-day.

1917 Times 3 Dec. 4/4 There would have been at the disposal of each of them [sc. players] on play days at Court some four and twenty glasses of free beer.

2002 Los Angeles Times (Nexis) 3 Mar. vi. 2 One of the play days was incorrect in the Feb. 24 listings.