卯うの刻こく

expression, noun

hour of the Rabbit; hour of the Hare

Archaic term for the time period around 6am, corresponding to the fourth of the twelve traditional Chinese hours. The exact span varies by system (e.g., 5-7am or 6-8am).

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいには、卯うの刻こくは明あけ六むっつとも呼よばれた。

  In the Edo period, the hour of the Rabbit was also called 'ake-muttsu'.