pudding timen.
/ˈpʊdɪŋˌtʌɪm/, U.S. /ˈpʊdɪŋˌtaɪm/ Now rare.
The time when pudding or puddings are to be had; (hence figurative) a time when a person is in luck; a favourable or useful time. †to come in pudding time: to come in good time, to come at a propitious moment (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > [noun]
tidec888
timeeOE
whilec950
seleOE
seasona1300
tidefulnessa1340
spacea1382
placec1384
pudding time1546
1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. ix. sig. Lii v This geare comth euen in puddyng time ryghtly.
1604 T. Dekker & T. Middleton Honest Whore sig. k4 Come mistris we are in Bedlam now, mas and see, we come in pudding-time, for here's the Duke.
1668 J. Dryden Sr Martin Mar-all iv. 49 Here he comes in Pudding-time to resolve the question.
1716 J. Addison Freeholder No. 30. ⁋4 The ordinary Salutation is, Sir, I am glad to see you, you are come in Pudding-time.
1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. 125 Come, will you do as we do? You are come in Pudden-Time.
1743 Vicar of Bray in New Acad. of Complements 134 When George in pudding-time came o'er, And moderate-men look'd big, Sir.
1840 F. Marryat S.W. & by W. in Olla Podrida He came in pudding-time, and was invited to dinner.
1853 W. G. Simms Sword & Distaff lvii. 488 Get out, my dear fellow, and let us hurry in to dinner. You are just in pudding time.
1860 F. Greenwood & J. Greenwood Under Cloud III. iv. 84 I hope your brother'll be back in pudding time.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. viii. [Lestrygonians] 155 Best moment to attack one in pudding time. A punch in his dinner.
2005 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 3 Sept. (Weekend section) 22 A nice, unexpected touch comes at pudding time when we're offered the choice of anything from the à la carte menu.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1546