<P> Recent developments in communication technology--internet, mobile, instant messaging, presence tracking, etc.--have begun to change the nature of vacation . Vacation today means absence from the workplace rather than temporary cession of work . It is now the norm in North America and the United Kingdom to carry on working or remain on call while on vacation rather than abandon work altogether . Office employees telecommute whilst on vacation . Workers may choose to unplug for a portion of a day and thus create the feeling of a "vacation" by simply separating themselves from the demands of constant digital communications . Antithetically, workers may take time out of the office to go on vacation, but remain plugged - in to work - related communications networks . While remaining plugged - in over vacation may generate short - term business benefits, the long - term psychological impacts of these developments are only beginning to be understood . </P> <P> Vacation, in English - speaking North America, describes recreational travel, such as a short pleasure trip, or a journey abroad . People in Commonwealth countries use the term holiday to describe absence from work as well as to describe a vacation or journey . Vacation can mean either staying home or going somewhere . </P> <P> Canadians often use vacation and holiday interchangeably referring to a trip away from home or time off work . In Australia and the UK, holiday can refer to a vacation or a public holiday . </P> <P> The Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, Carnegies, Huntingtons and other fabulously wealthy industrialists built their own spectacular "great camps" in the Adirondacks of upstate NY where they could disport with their families in private luxury . The scions of New York City took to declaring that they would "vacate" their city homes for their lakeside summer retreats, and the term "vacation" replaced the British "holiday" in common parlance . </P>

When did the word vacation enter the american lexicon