n. — Atlantic Canada, Social customs
a social gathering, typically including music and dance; often used in the expression to have a time.
Type: 2. Preservation — In Atlantic Canada, a time is a festive social gathering. Written sources suggest that there are two types of time - an informal social gathering with friends or family (COD-2, s.v. "time" (10)), or a more formal community event (COD-2, s.v. "time" (17)), generally involving dance and/or entertainment. These distinctions are also outlined in the 1982 quotation below. The term is used in the northeastern United States in addition to Newfoundland and the Maritimes (OED-3, s.v. "time" (7c)) and appears to be exclusive to North America. However, DARE does not list this meaning, which casts doubt on the North American dimension suggested by OED-3. Though citations date back to the late 1800s, the continued relevance of time for Newfoundland is reflected in the recent decision by Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism to publish a video explaining the term (see NL Tourism reference). The term appears to be a preservation of older use.
See also ITP Nelson, s.v. "time" (15), which is marked "Atlantic Canada", DNE, s.v. "time", DPEIE, s.v. "time", COD-2, s.v. "time" (10) and (17), which are marked "Cdn (Maritimes & Nfld) and "Cdn (Nfld.)", and OED-3, s.v. "time" (7c), which is marked "N. Amer. regional (chiefly New England and Newfoundland)".