COCKCROWING (ἀλεκτοροφωνία, G231, the crowing of a cock). The name of the third watch of the night, from twelve to three a.m. In the time of Christ the night was divided by the Romans into four watches: late, midnight, cockcrowing, and early. Each of the evangelists refers to the crowing of the cock in connection with Peter’s denial of Jesus (Matt 26:34, 74; Mark 14:30; Luke 22:34; John 13:38).