3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Whitsunday  \Whit"sun*day\,  n.  [White  +  Sunday.] 
  1.  (Eccl.)  The  seventh  Sunday,  and  the  fiftieth  day  after 
  Easter;  a  festival  of  the  church  in  commemoration  of  the 
  descent  of  the  Holy  Spirit  on  the  day  of  Pentecost; 
  Pentecost;  --  so  called  it  is  said  because  in  the 
  primitive  church,  those  who  had  been  newly  baptized 
  appeared  at  church  between  Easter  and  Pentecost  in  white 
  garments. 
 
  2.  (Scots  Law)  See  the  Note  under  {Term},  n.,  12. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Pentecost  \Pen"te*cost\,  n.  [L.  pentecoste,  Gr  ?  (sc.  ?)  the 
  fiftieth  day  Pentecost,  fr  ?  fiftieth,  fr  ?  fifty,  fr  ? 
  five  See  {Five},  and  cf  {Pingster}.] 
  1.  A  solemn  festival  of  the  Jews;  --  so  called  because 
  celebrated  on  the  fiftieth  day  (seven  weeks)  after  the 
  second  day  of  the  Passover  (which  fell  on  the  sixteenth  of 
  the  Jewish  month  Nisan);  --  hence  called  also  the  {Feast 
  of  Weeks}.  At  this  festival  an  offering  of  the  first 
  fruits  of  the  harvest  was  made  By  the  Jews  it  was 
  generally  regarded  as  commemorative  of  the  gift  of  the  law 
  on  the  fiftieth  day  after  the  departure  from  Egypt. 
 
  2.  A  festival  of  the  Roman  Catholic  and  other  churches  in 
  commemoration  of  the  descent  of  the  Holy  Spirit  on  the 
  apostles;  which  occurred  on  the  day  of  Pentecost;  -- 
  called  also  {Whitsunday}.  --Shak. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  Whitsunday 
  n  :  seventh  Sunday  after  Easter;  commemorates  the  descent  of  the 
  Holy  Spirit  on  the  apostles;  a  quarter  day  in  Scotland 
  [syn:  {Pentecost},  {Whitsunday}] 

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