Plural of weekend; the period from Friday evening through Sunday, typically when most people don't work. Time designated for rest and leisure activities.
Compound of 'week' and 'end,' first appearing in the 1630s but not becoming common until the 19th century with industrialization. The modern two-day weekend was largely established by labor movements in the early 20th century.
The weekend is a surprisingly recent invention—before industrialization, most people worked six days and rested on Sunday only. Henry Ford's introduction of the five-day work week in 1926 wasn't just about worker welfare; he realized people needed time off to buy and enjoy the cars he was making.
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