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

At four oclock, to the minute, the fanfare sounds, and the crowd streams into the theatre.

From Project Gutenberg

That night he came in late, and wandered up and down the hall until almost four oclock in the morning.

From Project Gutenberg

But at last, on Monday afternoon, at four oclock, the storm quieted so we were able to square away again for the Windward Passage.

From Project Gutenberg

At four oclock on the morning of March 25, 1865, Gordon had everything in readiness.

From Project Gutenberg

They were taken from jail at about four oclock on Monday morning, and reached Portsea about eleven.

From Project Gutenberg