Crepuscular

An animal that is active at twilight, whether at dusk or at dawn, is said to be crepuscular. Used in the same way as nocturnal or diurnal. Horses, peculiarly enough, are crepuscular by nature.

Can also be used to describe events that occur in the twilight hours, or more metephorically, events pertaining to the dawn of man or to the end of a human life (cf: "twilight years"), though seldom vice-versa.

Cre*pus"cu*lar (-k?-l?r), Cre*pus"cu*lous (-l?s), a. [Cf. F. crpusculaire.]

1.

Pertaining to twilight; glimmering; hence, imperfectly clear or luminous.

This semihistorical and crepuscular period. Sir G. C. Lewis.

2. Zool.

Flying in the twilight or evening, or before sunrise; -- said certain birds and insects.

Others feed only in the twilight, as bats and owls, and are called crepuscular. Whewell.

 

© Webster 1913.