four-o'clock

[ fawr-uh-klok, fohr- ]

noun

1. a common garden plant, Mirabilis jalapa, of the four-o'clock family, having tubular red, white, yellow, or variegated flowers that open late in the afternoon.
2. any plant of the same genus.

four-o'clock

noun

1. Also calledmarvel-of-Peru a tropical American nyctaginaceous plant, Mirabilis jalapa , cultivated for its tubular yellow, red, or white flowers that open in late afternoon
2. another name for friarbird , esp the noisy friarbird ( Philemon corniculatus ): so called because of its cry

Word History and Origins

Origin of four-o'clock¹

First recorded in 1750–60

Example Sentences

It was barely four o'clock, and the sun came down a long vista of blue islands that led out to the open sea and Finland.

From Project Gutenberg

At four o'clock in the morning of the 26th, all the streets and squares of the city were found full of troops.

From Project Gutenberg

"At midnight and at four o'clock in the morning," she said, and I was fearful that we would not awake.

From Project Gutenberg

Around four o'clock the children took a long walk in the opposite direction from any of their other explorations.

From Project Gutenberg

At four o'clock Isabel was awakened by suspicious sounds at the key-hole of the front door.

From Project Gutenberg