Word Study
four-o'clock
CIDE DICTIONARY
four-o'clock, n.
- A plant of the genus
Mirabilis . There are about half a dozen species, natives of the warmer parts of America. The common four-o'clock isM. Jalapa . Its flowers are white, yellow, and red, and open toward sunset, or earlier in cloudy weather; hence the name. It is also calledmarvel of Peru , andafternoon lady . [1913 Webster] - The friar bird; -- so called from its cry, which resembles these words. [1913 Webster]
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