walkathonn.
/ˈwɔːkəθɒn/, U.S. /ˈwɔkəˌθɑn/, /ˈwɑkəˌθɑn/ colloquial (originally and chiefly U.S.).
A long-distance or protracted walk, esp. one undertaken competitively or (now frequently) in order to raise money for charity.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > [noun] > a walk or journey on foot > protracted
walkathon1930
walkabout1946
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > racing on foot > [noun] > walking race
walking match1751
walking go1802
walk1882
race walking1893
walkathon1930
1930 Chicago Defender 6 Dec. 20 Walkathon—Out in San Francisco several couples started out to establish a new walking record... They will continue day and night until one couple is left.
1957 Daily Mail 27 Dec. 4/3 If Barber gets to the bottom of the world by plane, why on earth are the other boys—the Hillary-Fuchs expeditions—walking?.. I gather that the walkathon idea is the British contribution to the Geophysical Year.
1963 Weekly News (Auckland) 31 July 3/4 (caption) Representatives of harriers, scouts, bible classes and old soldiers taking part in the recent 50-mile ‘walkathon’ in aid of the Murray Halberg Trust for Crippled Children.
1979 Honolulu Advertiser 8 Jan. b2/2 Manned booths for various charitable walk-a-thons or walked themselves.
2004 Time Out N.Y. 21 Oct. 59/2 The purpose of the National Conference for Community and Justice's walkathon is to raise awareness about bias and bigotry, and promote cross-cultural unity.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
n.1930