anchor-watch

A sailor stands anchor-watch on the deck at night.

Definition

Noun:
- A period of duty on a ship while at anchor: "anchor-watch" refers to the watch or shift kept by crew members on a vessel when it is anchored, to ensure safety and monitor for any changes in conditions.

Usage Examples

• (The duty period during anchoring.)
• (The specific shift while the ship is anchored.)

Advanced Usage

• "to stand anchor-watch": to perform the duty of keeping watch while the ship is anchored.
  • Every sailor must learn to stand anchor-watch properly. (Fulfill the responsibility of monitoring the anchored vessel.)

Variants and Related Words

• Anchor (n): a heavy object attached to a ship to keep it in place.

  • The anchor was dropped to secure the ship in the harbor. (The device used for mooring.)

• Watch (n): a period of duty on a ship, typically four hours long.

  • The night watch is often the most challenging. (A shift of duty on a vessel.)

Synonyms

• Anchoring duty: the specific task of watching over the ship while anchored.
• Mooring watch: a similar term for duty while a ship is moored.

Related Idioms

• "on the anchor-watch": actively performing the duty of watching while anchored.
  • The captain put him on the anchor-watch for the night. (Assigned to the duty shift.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Keep anchor-watch: to maintain vigilance during the anchoring period.
  • The officer ordered the crew to keep anchor-watch until dawn. (Stay alert and perform the watch.)