At twelfth-day the days are lengthened a cock's stride.
Meaning: Winter daylight gains imperceptibly after the new year, measurable only in tiny incremental steps.
Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.
More proverbs about Wisdom
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From our untranslatable words
- Madrugada — The liminal hours between midnight and sunrise — that strange, quiet time when the night…
- Duende — A mysterious quality in art or performance that moves you to your core — a dark, soulful,…
- Querencia — A place where you feel safe, grounded, and most fully yourself — a sanctuary from which y…