cock-crowing

Uncertain what was next to happen, but resolved to abide the course of events, Sir Kenneth paced the solitary chapel till about the time of the earliest cock-crowing.

The Talisman 2008

These particulars were reported to the Banneret, who directed Donnerhugel to take charge of a body of six of the young men, such as he should himself choose, to patrol on the outside of the building till the first cock-crowing, and at that hour to return to the castle, when the same number were to take the duty till morning dawned, and then he relieved in their turn.

Anne of Geierstein 2008

As they were taken home a continual sound of cock-crowing was audible, but as the words were not distinguished they required no painful attention; but when the soda water and brandy and cigars made their appearance in Mr

The Way We Live Now 2004

They sallied forth at cock-crowing in the mornings, and by daylight reached the uncultivated parts of the adjacent country, collected a bundle of fire-wood, and returned to the city.

Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa 2004

I am not sure that I ever heard the sound of cock-crowing from my clearing, and I thought that it might be worth the while to keep

Walden 2004

It did not take long for this public “cock-crowing,” as Weizsäcker called it, to subside.

Castles of Steel Massie, Robert K., 1929- 2003

The hour that Spirits came to the earth was mid-night, and they remained until cock-crowing, when they were obliged to depart.

Welsh Folk-Lore a Collection of the Folk-Tales and Legends of North Wales Elias Owen

Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

Jesus of Nazareth, A Biography, by John Mark

Swedenborg was laying the foundation of all knowledge on the solid floors of Nature, subordinating sense to science, science to philosophy, philosophy to revelation, each serving as the impregnable support of its superior, and all filled and quickened with the life of God, and lighted up with those divine illuminations in whose illustrious morning the first and faintest cock-crowing would scare the ghosts of the Kantian philosophy out of the universe.

The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 12, No. 69, July, 1863 Various

On the Wednesday morning next after Michaelmas day, the tenants are bound to attend upon the first cock-crowing, and to kneel and do their homage, without any kind of light, but such as heaven will afford.

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 12, No. 336, October 18, 1828 Various