break daylight verb phrase [with stress on both day and light] To dawn, become light in the early morning.
1937 Hall Coll (Smokemont NC) [By the] time we got the tree cut down, it was day, just breaking daylight. 1939 Hall Coll (Proctor NC) We just stood there till it went to breaking daylight and got to snowing. Ibid. (Indian Creek NC) When it begin to break daylight till she could see to walk, she took her two little kids and went on in home.
—Dictionary of Smoky Mountain English
Matt’s favorite time of day is when it’s just starting to break daylight. He says it’s a still quiet time that he relishes and needs. His love for that time of day likely came from all the years of deer hunting. Although I’ve heard him wax poetic about seeing the day come alive before the distraction and noise of daily life I don’t enjoy it as much.
I’m an early riser but it takes me a while to come fully awake and be ready to face the day. But I am thrilled that Matt enjoys his early mornings.
It means he starts the fire in the winter, lets the chickens out and feeds them year round, and on our recent beach trip it gave him time to set up our umbrellas and chairs. All I had to do was walk to my chair book in hand and sit.
Last night’s video: Best Vacation Ever!
Tipper
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