Pynchon likes the word noontide...in ATD at least, fittingly, that novel of light and sun.

[Mark Kohut]

p.. 131. "Quaternionism in this era still enjoyed the light and warmth of a
cheerful noontide."

Another reason re the bells of Venice below is the Catholic tradition of
the Angelus and its bells.
I grew up hearing that noontide bell every lunchtime at my Catholic
school.  I'll bet Pynchon heard it
regularly, that church-going boy.  And there's Italy, that Catholic
country, full of them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usvH2GawdA0

Anyone with searchable Pynchon texts want to check if noontide is used in
other works? My guess is
No to GR and BE at all...

On 16/02/2019 00:49, Mike Jing wrote:
>> > > > P243.1-6   Across the city noontide a field of bells emerged into
>> > flower,
>> > > > as the boys came swooping in over Murano, above wide-topped
red-clay
>> > > > chimneys the size of smokestacks, known as fumaioli, according to
>> the
>> > > local
>> > > > pilot, Zanni. “Very dangerous, the sparks, they could blow up the
>> > > balloon,
>> > > > certo,” drops of perspiration flying off his face at all angles, as
>> if
>> > > > self-propelled.
>> > > >
>> > > > What does "a field of bells emerged into flower" mean here?
>> > > > --