ship's bell

Thân thiện

The sailor strikes the ship's bell to mark the hour.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A unit of time used on ships, equivalent to a thirty-minute period of a four-hour watch. The time is signaled by striking a bell a specific number of times. The sequence repeats every four hours, with "eight bells" marking the end of a watch (e.g., 4:00, 8:00, or 12:00).

Usage

• Noun:
  • The lookout noted the change in the wind just before eight bells.
  • The watch schedule is organized around the sounding of the ship's bell.

Advanced Usage

• "To mark the ship's bell": To indicate the time by striking the bell.
  • The duty sailor marked the ship's bell to signal the end of the first dogwatch.
• "Strike eight bells": To signal that it is 4, 8, or 12 o'clock.
  • They will strike eight bells at midnight to begin the new day.

Variants and Related Words

• Bell (n): The physical bell on a ship that is struck.
  • The bell was made of polished brass.
• Watch (n): A period of duty, typically four hours, on a ship.
  • He was assigned to the midnight watch.

Synonyms

• Nautical bell: A term specifying the maritime context of the time signal.
• Bell time: Informal reference to the timekeeping system.

Notes on Meaning

This term has a highly specific, technical meaning in a nautical context. It refers primarily to the time signal system, not the physical object (which is simply a "bell"). The pattern of strikes is: 1 bell = 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, etc.; 2 bells = 1:00, 2:00, etc., up to 8 bells marking 4:00, 8:00, and 12:00.

Học thuật

Noun

1. (nautical) each of the eight half-hour units of nautical time signaled by strokes of a ship's bell; eight bells signals 4:00, 8:00, or 12:00 o'clock, either a.m. or p.m.

Từ đồng nghĩa

• bell