cock-shut Obs. or dial.
(ˈkɒkʃʌt)
Also -shoot(e, -shot.
[f. cock n.1 + shut: perh. the time when poultry go to rest and are shut up; though some think it is = cockshoot, and refers to the time when wood-cocks ‘shoot’ or fly.]
1. attrib. in cock-shut light, cock-shut time, etc.: twilight.
| 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, v. iii. 70 Thomas the Earle of Surrey, and himselfe, Much about Cockshut time..Went through the Army, chearing vp the Souldiers. 1603 B. Jonson Satyr, For you would not yesternight Kiss him in the cock-shut light. c 1610 Middleton, etc. Widow iii. i, Come, come away, then; a fine cock-shoot evening. 1611 Cotgr., Brune, the euening twylight, or edge of the euening; cockshoot time. 1868 H. Kingsley Mad. Mathilde III. 79 It was getting dusk, cockshot time as they would have said at Sheepsden. |
2. n. Twilight.
| 1598 Florio, Cane e lupo, Cock-shut, or twilight, as when a man cannot discerne a dog from a Wolfe. 1855 Whitby Gloss., Cockshut, the close of day. |