that part of the natural day during which the sun is underneath the horizon; or that space wherein it is dark.

Night was originally divided by the Hebrews, and other eastern nations, into three parts; or watchings. The Romans, and afterwards the Jews from them, divide the night into four parts, or watches, the first of which began at sunset and lasted till nine at night, according to our way of reckoning; the second lasted till midnight; the third till three in the morning; and the fourth ended at sunrise. The ancient Gauls and Germans divided their time, not by days, but by nights; and the people of Iceland, and the Arabs, do the same at this day. The like is also observed of our Saxon ancestors.