Night-time, the night. Esp. in by nightertime: at night, during the night; cf. a-nightertimeadv.
ΚΠ
c1425 J. LydgateTroyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iv. l. 6598 (MED) He was slayn in ful cruel wyse By nyȝter tyme.
c1430 in Jrnl. Eng. & Germanic Philol. (1907) 7 107 (MED) Þe fesaunt, scornere of þe cok, Be nihyter tyme in frostis colde..sche crew, Hire hertes sentens to vnfolde.