戌いぬの刻こく

expression, noun

hour of the Dog; around 8pm

Archaic temporal unit from the traditional Japanese clock, corresponding roughly to 7–9 p.m. or 8–10 p.m. depending on the system. Used in historical contexts.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だい、戌いぬの刻こくは夜よるの始はじまりとされていた。

  In the Edo period, the hour of the Dog was considered the start of night.