nightfright
nounEtymology From night + fright.
1
Fear of the night, nyctophobia, noctophobia
- Though we have had stage windows before, and by the thousands, I don't think I have ever seen this particular use made of them: the sense of air, of nightfright beyond the walls, of extended dimension is so palpable that you believe in the continuing world past the leaded-glass door, half-imagine that you can remember the street-address tacked over it.1973, The New York Times Theater Reviews, volume 11, page 258:
- Babies of this age often experience nightfright1981, Lucie W. Barber, Herman J. Williams, Your baby's first 30 months:
4 more examples
- In night fright, the child expresses fear about falling asleep.1987, Barbara Kuczen, Childhood stress, page 350:
- Close communion with God makes us immune to night fright and gives us courage in darkness.1997, Roger Campbell, Spurgeon's Daily Treasures in the Psalms:
- Remember that in making a judgement you simply cannot predict the likelihood or otherwise of these nocturnal panics. […] It is worth noting that some species are more susceptible than others to night fright; quail and other small gallinaceous species, and tmamou, are among the bad offenders.2003, A. Kumar, Aviculture, page 74:
- I was dreadfully afraid of the night (a carryover from childhood, but my self-control just didn't work with night fright), and I smoked.2006, Chap Attwell, 100 Questions & Answers About Anxiety, page 162:
2
A terror or fright typically occurring at night.
- In the warm light she looked like a little girl who has suffered a night-fright.1929, Dale Collins, Idolaters, page 243:
- Synonyms
- nightfear, nightmare