nightfright

• night fright, night-fright

From night +‎ fright.

nightfright (countable and uncountable, plural nightfrights)

1. (uncountable) Fear of the night, nyctophobia, noctophobia
   • 1973, The New York Times Theater Reviews, volume 11, page 258:

     Though we have had stage windows before, and by the thousands, I don't think I have ever seen this particular use made of them: the sense of air, of nightfright beyond the walls, of extended dimension is so palpable that you believe in the continuing world past the leaded-glass door, half-imagine that you can remember the street-address tacked over it.

   • 1981, Lucie W. Barber, Herman J. Williams, Your baby's first 30 months:

     Babies of this age often experience nightfright

   • 1987, Barbara Kuczen, Childhood stress, page 350:

     In night fright, the child expresses fear about falling asleep.

   • 1997, Roger Campbell, Spurgeon's Daily Treasures in the Psalms:

     Close communion with God makes us immune to night fright and gives us courage in darkness.

   • 2003, A. Kumar, Aviculture, page 74:

     Remember that in making a judgement you simply cannot predict the likelihood or otherwise of these nocturnal panics. […] It is worth noting that some species are more susceptible than others to night fright; quail and other small gallinaceous species, and tmamou, are among the bad offenders.

   • 2006, Chap Attwell, 100 Questions & Answers About Anxiety, page 162:

     I was dreadfully afraid of the night (a carryover from childhood, but my self-control just didn't work with night fright), and I smoked.

   • 2013, David Alderton, Pigeons and Doves: Care and Breeding:

     Once properly acclimatised, these pigeons are quite hardy, but they should always be encouraged to roost under cover at night. This will make them less susceptible to night fright, flying about wildly having been disturbed by cats perhaps, fireworks or even lightning.

2. (countable) A terror or fright typically occurring at night.
   • 1929, Dale Collins, Idolaters, page 243:

     In the warm light she looked like a little girl who has suffered a night-fright.

• (fear of the night): nightfear
• (terror at night): nightmare