Poetic or literary word for evening or night, often used in classical poetry and set phrases. Not used in everyday conversation.
The evening breeze is pleasant.
「小夜鳴く」 is an old expression referring to birds that sing at night.
serenade
midnight; dead of night
strong nighttime wind; night gale
light night shower in late autumn or early winter
nightingale; common nightingale
Formed from 夜 with the old ornamental prefix さ, which commonly appears in poetic expressions. The prefix does not contribute the ordinary meaning “small.”