little hours

plural noun

, Roman Catholic Church.

1. the hours of prime, tierce, sext, and nones, and sometimes also vespers and compline.

little hours

plural noun

1. RC Church the canonical hours of prime, terce, sext, and nones in the divine office

Word History and Origins

Origin of little hours¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

It was crowded now; the roaring business of the little hours was in full swing.

From Project Gutenberg

Merrily the evening passed off, and merrily the little hours came on, and song and laugh rather grew gayer than slackened.

From Project Gutenberg