old moon
Americannoun
noun
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a phase of the moon lying between last quarter and new moon, when it appears as a waning crescent
-
the moon when it appears as a waning crescent
-
the time at which this occurs
Etymology
Origin of old moon
First recorded in 1580–90
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Earthshine is also called “the old moon in the new moon’s arms”—a lovely turn of phrase that not nearly enough astronomers use.
From Scientific American ● Jul. 21, 2023
The expedition also collected some especially old moon rocks.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 21, 2022
“That boy’s right! We could mine that old moon good!”
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
The big old moon of a few days back had shrunk to something with a big slice of itself gone.
From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
In that ballad he was cautioned not to go to sea, because his old and weatherwise attendant had noticed the new moon with the old moon in its lap.
From The Real Gladstone an Anecdotal Biography by Ritchie, J. Ewing (James Ewing)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
