An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The time of day immediately following → sunset which is partial darkness between day and night.

Etymology (EN): Back formation from M.E. dosk, duske “dusky,” from O.E. dox “dark-haired, dark.”

Etymology (PE): Šâmgâh, from šâm “evening, evening meal”

• gâh “time.” The first component, šâm, from Mid.Pers. šâm “evening meal, supper,” from Av. xšāfnya- “evening meal,” from Av. xšap-, xšapā-, xšapan-, xšafn- “night” (O.Pers. xšap- “night;” Mid.Pers. šap; Mod.Pers. šab “night”); cf. Skt. ksap- “nigh, darkness;” Hitt. ispant- “night.” The second component gâh “time;” Mid.Pers. gâh, gâs “time;” O.Pers. gāθu-; Av. gātav-, gātu- “place, throne, spot;” cf. Skt. gâtu- “going, motion; free space for moving; place of abode;” PIE *gwem- “to go, come.”