watch-pocket

A gentleman checks the time by pulling a pocket watch from his watch-pocket.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small pocket for a watch: "watch-pocket" refers to a small, specialized pocket, typically found in a waistcoat (vest) or trousers, designed specifically to hold a pocket watch. It is usually reinforced or shaped to securely accommodate the watch and its chain.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • He slipped his gold pocket watch into the watch-pocket of his waistcoat. (He placed the watch into the small pocket intended for it.)
  • The tailor added a watch-pocket to the trousers for convenience. (The custom pocket was sewn in for holding a watch.)

Advanced Usage

• "watch-pocket" as a historical garment feature: In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the watch-pocket was a standard component of men's formal wear, often located on the left side of the waistcoat or just below the waistband of trousers.
  • The vintage suit still has its original watch-pocket, complete with a small button for the chain. (The pocket is preserved from the original design.)

Variants and Related Words

• Watch (n): a small timepiece worn on the wrist or carried in a pocket.
  • He checked his watch before the meeting. (He looked at his timepiece.)
• Pocket (n): a small bag-like part of clothing for carrying items.
  • She put her keys in her coat pocket. (She placed them in the bag-like compartment.)
• Pocket watch (n): a watch designed to be carried in a pocket, often with a chain.
  • The antique pocket watch was a family heirloom. (A watch kept in a pocket, not on a wrist.)

Synonyms

• Watch fob pocket: a small pocket specifically for a pocket watch, often with a slit for the chain.
• Vest pocket: a pocket on a waistcoat (vest), though not always for a watch.

Related Idioms

• "To keep time in one's pocket": a figurative expression meaning to be punctual or to carry a watch.
  • He always kept time in his pocket, never arriving late. (He was always on time, thanks to his watch.)

Phrasal Verbs

• None directly associated with "watch-pocket" as a noun.

Note on Usage

• The term "watch-pocket" is largely historical or specialized today, as pocket watches have been largely replaced by wristwatches and mobile phones. It may appear in descriptions of vintage clothing, historical reenactments, or formal attire.