First Known Use: 1655
Dictionary
siesta
noun si·es·ta \sē-ˈes-tə\
: a regular period of sleep or rest in the afternoon in some hot countries
: a brief sleep
Full Definition of SIESTA
: an afternoon nap or rest
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Origin of SIESTA
Spanish, from Latin sexta (hora) noon, literally, sixth hour — more at sext
Related to SIESTA
SIESTA Defined for Kids
siesta
noun si·es·ta \sē-ˈe-stə\
Definition of SIESTA for Kids
: a nap or rest especially at midday
Word History of SIESTA
The ancient Romans counted the hours of the day from sunrise to sunset, an average of about twelve hours. The sixth hour of the Roman day—in Latin, sexta hora, or simply sexta—fell around noon. The word sexta passed into Spanish as siesta, which referred first to the hot period around the middle of the day, and then to a nap taken during this period after the midday meal. English siesta comes from the Spanish word.
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