marathon

Etymology

From French marathon, coined in 1894 by linguist Michel Bréal for the first modern time Olympic Games after Ancient Greek Μαραθών (Marathṓn), a town northeast of Athens. Phidippides the Greek ran the distance from Marathon to Athens to deliver a message regarding the Battle of Marathon. The modern sport of marathon running is based on a run approximately the same distance. The toponym itself comes from μάραθον (márathon, “fennel”) and refers to the prevalence of the plant in the area.

noun

1. A 42.195 kilometre (26 mile 385 yard) road race.
2. (figurative, by extension) Any extended or sustained activity.
   He had a cleaning marathon the night before his girlfriend came over.
   After a marathon session that included more than 14 hours of mostly negative public comment, the council agreed 11 to 4 to fund the center, and then gaveled out just before 6 a.m. 10 June 23, Patricia Murphy, “OPINION: ‘Atlanta way’ long gone as city leaders face death threats over training center”, in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

verb

1. To run a marathon.
   In less than two years, they and their family and friends have skydived, marathoned, tray-baked and dinner-danced their way to £130,000 for Duchenne research through their help4harry campaign. August 1, 2015, “‘I was cross that my child had to beg the prime minister for a drug’”, in The Guardian
2. (informal, transitive) To watch or read a large number of instalments of (a film, book, TV series, etc.) in one sitting.
   We're going to marathon Star Trek next weekend.