fifth division of the night (approx. 3am to 5am)
Archaic term from the traditional Chinese-influenced timekeeping system, dividing the night into five watches. 戊夜 refers to the last watch, roughly corresponding to 3am–5am. Not used in modern Japanese outside historical or literary contexts.
In classical literature, 戊夜 refers to the period just before dawn.
A Chinese-derived compound in which 戊, the fifth heavenly stem, designates the fifth and final night watch, approximately 3–5 a.m.