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Where Does the Word “Fortnight” Come From?

The word “fortnight” signifies a period of 2 weeks, but it has nothing to do with castles, keeps, or forts!

It’s actually a contraction of the Old English:

Fēowertȳne niht

Meaning:

Fourteen-nights

By the Middle English period it was:

Fourtenight

And, eventually, the three syllables became two.

According to “An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language” (link below), it was more common in that period of the English language to measure time in nights and winters, not in days and years.
So, I guess the hardened warrior in a fantasy setting saying:

“I’ve roamed this realm for 32 winters.”

Can also add some points for historical depth to their coolness-factor!