"Boxing-day" - Word of the Day from the OED

[Dave Monroe]

OED Online Word of the Day

Boxing-day SECOND EDITION 1989

    The first week-day after Christmas-day, observed as a holiday on
which post-men, errand-boys, and servants of various kinds expect to
receive a Christmas-box. So also Boxing-night, Boxing-time.

1833 in A. MATHEWS Mem. C. Mathews (1839) IV. viii. 173 To the
completion of his dismay, he arrives in London on boxing-day. 1837
DICKENS Pickw. xxxii. 343 No man ever talked in poetry 'cept a beadle
on boxin' day. 1837  in Bentley's Misc. Mar. 296 The most turbulent
sixpenny gallery that ever yelled through a boxing-night. 1849 G.
SOANE New Curios. Lit. 317 The feast of Saint Stephen is more
generally known amongst us as Boxing-Day. 1871 Hood's 'Comic Ann.' 59
It was the Saturday before the Monday Boxing Night. 1877 PEACOCK N.
Linc. Gloss. (E.D.S.) Boxing-time, any time between Christmas-day, and
the end of the first week in January. 1884 Harper's Mag. Dec. 9/1 In
consequence of the multiplicity of business on Christmas-day, the
giving of Christmas-boxes was postponed to the 26th, St. Stephen's
Day, which became the established Boxing-day.

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