"period of two weeks," 17c. contraction of Middle English fourteniht, from Old English feowertyne niht, literally "fourteen nights" (see fourteen + night). It preserves the ancient Germanic custom of reckoning by nights (mentioned by Tacitus in "Germania" xi). Related: Fortnightly.
most major tennis tournaments last a fortnight
fortification
fortify
fortissimo
fortitude
fortitudinous
fortnight
Fortran
fortress
fortuitous
fortuity
fortunate
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