little hours

American  

plural noun

Roman Catholic Church.

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

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little hours British  

plural noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of little hours

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Then he had been but two hours late—two poor little hours!

From The Shadow of a Crime A Cumbrian Romance by Caine, Hall, Sir

Think of it! and can we ever hesitate to give all our poor little hours to His service?

From Kept for the Master's Use by Havergal, Frances Ridley

As far as we can see, St. Gregory arranged the little hours for Sunday only, and their arrangement for week days was left to the care of the bishops and metropolitans, or even of abbots.

From The Divine Office by Quigley, Edward J.

He passes similar comments on the hymns assigned to the little hours.

From The Divine Office by Quigley, Edward J.

Keep back the phantoms and the visions sad,   The shades of grey, The fancies that so haunt the little hours   Before the day.

From The Miracle and Other Poems by Sheard, Virna