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What is the origin of the term 'fortnight' and why is it used to describe a period of two weeks?

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What is the origin of the term 'fortnight' and why is it used to describe a period of two weeks?
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Hadrian's Wall, built to guard the Romans northern England border against the marauding Scots, had forts situated at regular intervals along its length. Every two weeks the soldiers got to sleep inside them and this is where our term for two weeks, 'Fortnight' comes from.
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From the Old English feowertiene niht - fourteen nights. Apparently the term is unheard of in the USA.
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Fortnight is a contraction of the Old English féowertyneniht, literally fourteen nights. It dates to c. 1000. . Am not sure I believe that stuff about Hadrian's Wall!
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Shortened from fourteen nights, hence fortnight.
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it is because it's 14 nights!!! fourteen nights becomes fortnight.. ;-)
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