first light
Preserved but no longer current.
Roughly, dawn. Used in World War II to signify the earliest time at which infantry can see to make their way forward; first tank light, about half an hour later, is the earliest time that a tank, closed down for battle, can see to move. The phrases last light and last tank light are used at the end of the day.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “first light” mean?
Roughly, dawn. Used in World War II to signify the earliest time at which infantry can see to make their way forward; first tank light, about half an hour later, is the earliest time that a tank, closed down for battle, can see to move. The phrases last light and last tank light are used at the end of the day.
Is “first light” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.