Meanings
plural Tobias nights
- in pluralA wedding night on which consummation of the marriage is postponed.
1 more example
1922, In various parts of Germany and Switzerland continence is observed for three nights after marriage, which are frequently known as the “Tobias nights”; it is believed that otherwise the wedded life of the couple would be unlucky, whereas if they abstain from intercourse the devil will not be able to do any harm. — Edward Westermarck, History of Human Marriage (Kessinger 2003, p.558)
Origin
With reference to Tobit 8:1-3, in which Tobias banishes a demon on his wedding-night.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
Tobias night. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Tobias%20night
“Tobias night.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Tobias%20night. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Tobias night,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Tobias%20night.
Source: Tobias night on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.