peep of day

plural peeps of day · alternative peep o' day

1. idiomaticThe very beginning of the day; the crack of dawn; daybreak, dawn.

   I shall cancel, without further provocation, the next lecture engagement that is implicated with a peep o' day train.

   1879, Robert J[ones] Burdette, Hawk-Eyes, New York, N.Y.: G. W. Carleton & Co., Publishers, page 137

   2 more examples

   Indeed, the whole chapter of Life in London has been so repeatedly perused by your Majesty, in such a variety of shapes, from the elegant A. the refined B. the polite C. the lively D. the eloquent E. the honest F. the stately G. the peep-o'day H. the tasteful I. the manly J. the good K. the noble L. the stylish M. the brave N. the liberal O. the proud P. the long-headed Q. the animated R. the witty S. the flash T. the knowing U. the honourable V. the consummate W. the funny X. the musical Y. and the poetical Z. that it would only be a waste of your Majesty's valuable time to expatiate further upon this subject.

   1821 July 19, Pierce Egan, “Dedication to His Most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth”, in Life in London; […], London: […] Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, page vii

   "Why, God be thanked, ma'am, I'm stout and hearty; and though I say it mysilf, there's not an ould woman in the county can stir about betther nor me, and I'm up ivery mornin' at the peep of day, and rout them all up out of their beds. Don't I?" said she, looking at Mary.

   1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 380

   Synonyms: day-peep