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

See Examples For:

little hours

Why not give just two or three little hours to study,—study so pleasant and so arranged that you may call it reading, or recreating, or getting acquainted with "the best of all good company"?

From Hold Up Your Heads, Girls! : Helps for Girls, in School and Out by Ryder, Annie H

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 Ballad of the Quest by Sheard, Virna

But, idol of my heart, though I am overcome with grief at the idea of leaving you for two little hours, it is a question of four thousand francs.

From The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol by Ball, Alec

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

From The Dop Doctor by Dehan, Richard

Through such a stupendous curve did the comet of 1843 whirl its tail in two little hours as it rounded the solar orb.

From Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 450 Volume 18, New Series, August 14, 1852 by Chambers, Robert