dagtimerne

Dagtimerne (the daytime hours) is a Danish term that refers to the portion of the day when there is daylight and when typical daily activities and work take place. The term is often used to distinguish this period from nattimerne, the night hours, and from periods of twilight.

Etymology and form: Dagtimerne is a compound of dag (day) and timer (hours) with the definite plural suffix -ne. The form is standard in Danish; cognates exist in Norwegian and Swedish.

Usage: In calendars, schedules and everyday speech, dagtimerne denotes the hours usually considered suitable for work, travel, and commerce. It can also refer to daylight in a broader sense, as opposed to artificial light at night. The concept can vary with location and season, especially in high latitudes where day length changes seasonally.

Historical and cultural context: Traditionally, dagtimerne structured agrarian and later industrial life, defining when people labored, traveled, and conducted business. With the advent of artificial lighting and 24-hour services, the strict separation between dagtimerne and nattimerne has become less rigid, though the terms remain in use in everyday language and in legal or contractual formulations to specify daytime periods.

See also: Daylight, Working hours, Schedule.