General
zero-dark
What does zero-dark mean?
The pre-dawn hours, as in 'zero-dark' o'clock; popularized more widely by the film title 'Zero Dark Thirty.'
"Movement begins at zero-dark, so get your rest."
Origin
U.S. military time slang; 'zero' hundred hours in darkness.
Frequently asked questions
What does zero-dark mean?
It refers to the very early, pre-dawn hours while it is still dark out, often used to describe an inconveniently early start time.
What is zero dark thirty?
It is a play on military time meaning some unspecified, very early hour in the dark before dawn; it was also popularized by the film 'Zero Dark Thirty.'
Where does zero-dark come from?
It comes from military time slang, where 'zero' hundred hours combined with darkness signals the black pre-dawn hours.
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