noon etymology

Etymology:

The word "noon" comes from the Old English word "nōn", meaning "the ninth hour". In ancient Rome, the day was divided into 12 equal hours, with the ninth hour being around noon.

Meaning:

Noon refers to the time of day when the sun is at its highest point in the sky, typically occurring around midday. It marks the division between the morning and afternoon.

Origin:

The concept of dividing the day into equal hours was developed by the Egyptians around 3,500 BCE. The Romans adopted this system and made it a standard timekeeping practice. The term "nōn" was used to refer to the ninth hour, which roughly corresponds to noon today.

Over time, the word "nōn" evolved into the Middle English "none" and eventually to the modern English "noon".

Additional Notes:

  • In some contexts, "noon" can also refer to the general time around midday, even if the sun is not at its highest point.
  • In astronomy, noon can refer to the moment when the center of the sun crosses the meridian, which may not coincide with the time of day when the sun appears to be at its highest.
  • The term "high noon" is often used to emphasize the time when the sun is at its peak.

noon relate terms

  • nine

    Origin Old English nigon from Proto West Germanic newun from Proto Germanic newu

  • nines

    Etymology Old English nigon Proto Germanic niwun Proto Indo European néwn̥

  • afternoon

    Etymology The word afternoon is derived from the Middle English phrase after none w

  • after

    Etymology Etymology derives from two Greek words étymos true or real lógos

  • noon

    Etymology The word noon comes from the Old English word nōn meaning the ninth hou

  • lunch

    Etymology The word lunch is derived from the Old English word nuncheon meaning a l

  • luncheon

    Etymology The word luncheon comes from the Middle English word noncheoun which was i

  • nones

    Etymology Middle English non not from Old English nan not of uncertain origin

  • meridian

    Etymology The word meridian comes from the Latin word meridiānus which is derived

  • undern

    Etymology The word undern has its roots in the Old English word under meaning below

  • MIDI

    Etymology MIDI is an acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface Meaning MIDI i

  • hour

    Etymology The word hour comes from the Latin word hora which means hour time seas

  • twelve

    Etymology The word twelve derives from the Old English twelf which itself comes fro