Of a Night

In Appalachian and older rural English, "of a night" means "at night" or "during the night." This older British-style phrasing lingered in the mountains long after it faded elsewhere.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #Time #DialectandGrammar #BlendedWords #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...

You might hear somebody say, ‘it’s startin’ to get cold of a night’ now that it’s September.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

You might hear somebody say, ‘it’s startin’ to get cold of a night’ now that it’s September.

Pronunciation

[UH-vuh NITE]

Meaning & Usage

- During the night (adverbial phrase)

Mae:

Frost come in?

Earl:

Yep. Laid down heavy of a night.

variations: of a night, o’ the night, in the night (dialect)

★ "Of a 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 and Etymology

The "of a ___" construction is centuries old in English (e.g., "of a Sunday"). While most modern English shifted to "in the night," Appalachia and parts of the rural South kept "of a night" alive in oral tradition.

Usage Notes

Still heard among older generations, especially in talk about weather, farming, or storytelling. Younger speakers often default to "at night" or "in the night." Using it adds an old-time flavor to a tale.

Say It Like a Southerner

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

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Is "of a night" different from "in the night"?

Same meaning, but "of a 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 form come from?

It’s an older British construction brought to Appalachia by Scots-Irish settlers.

Is it unique to Appalachia?

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

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 16). Of a Night. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/of-a-night/
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Of a Night." HillbillySlang.com, 16 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/of-a-night/.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Of a Night." HillbillySlang.com. September 16, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/of-a-night/.

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