dog-watch

A sailor stands watch during the dog-watch.

Definition

1. Noun (Nautical):
   • A shortened watch period of two hours on a ship, typically from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. (the first dog-watch) or from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (the second dog-watch). This division breaks the usual four-hour watch cycle, allowing sailors to have different shifts each day.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The sailors stood the first dog-watch from four to six in the evening. (A two-hour watch period on a ship.)
  • During the second dog-watch, the crew prepared for the night shift. (The watch from six to eight p.m.)

Advanced Usage

• "to stand a dog-watch": to perform duty during a dog-watch period.
  • Every sailor had to stand a dog-watch at least once a week. (To serve a two-hour watch shift.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dog-watches (plural noun): the two two-hour watches in the evening.
  • The dog-watches are unique to maritime tradition. (The two shortened evening watches.)

Synonyms

• Evening watch: a general term for a watch period in the evening.
• Short watch: a watch of less than four hours.

Related Idioms

• First dog-watch: the watch from 4 to 6 p.m.

  • The first dog-watch is often the busiest for cooking and cleaning. (The early evening watch.)

• Second dog-watch: the watch from 6 to 8 p.m.

  • The second dog-watch allows sailors to have dinner before night duty. (The later evening watch.)