o'the night

In Appalachian and older rural English, "o’the night" means "in the night" or "during the night." The "o’" is a contraction of "of," giving the phrase a timeless, old-country sound that survived in mountain talk.

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

You might here somebody say, 'it's startin' to get cold o’the night' now that it's September.

Pronunciation

[uh-thuh NAHHT]

Meaning & Usage

- Time of night (adverbial phrase)

Mae:

Frost come in?

Earl:

Yep. Laid down heavy o’the night.

other spellings: of the night, in the night, o’ the night, and o’the night

★ "O’the night" is a plain way of saying "during the night," but it lends a storybook or old-time feel, especially in weather talk or family tales. ★

Origin

The "o’" contraction for "of" has deep roots in English and Scots-Irish speech. While most modern English shifted to "in the night," Appalachia and parts of rural South kept "o’the night" alive in oral tradition.

Notes

Still heard among older generations, especially in talk about weather, farming, or storytelling. Younger speakers often default to "in the night."

Say It Like a Southerner

Say it soft and simple: "o’ the night." The "o’" is quick, nearly swallowed, while "night" carries the weight in the phrase.

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Is "o’the night" different from "in the night"?

Same meaning, but "o’the night" carries an older, Appalachian flavor.

Do people still say it today?

Rarely, but it survives among older speakers and in storytelling.

Where did the "o’" come from?

It’s a contraction of "of," common in older English and Scots-Irish speech.

Is it unique to Appalachia?

Not unique, but Appalachia preserved it far longer than other regions.