Feierabend is the free time after the working day, and also the end of work itself. Duden gives Feierabend machen, to stop work for the day, and nach Feierabend, after work. The word is old. Duden traces it to late Middle High German vīrabent, the eve of a holiday. Only later was it reinterpreted through the verb feiern, to celebrate. The evening after every working day now carries the name once given to the evening before a holiday.