come nightfall
When dark gets here; by the time night settles.
Also called come night.
Updated September 21, 2026
come nightfall pronunciation
/kum NITE-fall/
Meaning
Come nightfall marks a deadline or a change tied to darkness. Rural Southern and Appalachian talk still uses this old "come + time" pattern for chores, weather, and getting home. Same family as come morning and come spring.
How folks use it
- “Be back at the house come nightfall, or Mama'll be on the porch looking.”
- “It'll cool off some come nightfall, once the sun drops behind the ridge.”
Origin and etymology
Older English used come before a time or season to mean "when that arrives." Standard speech mostly dropped it; Southern and Appalachian country talk kept forms like come nightfall, come morning, and come winter, especially where daylight still runs the day.