Watch

Watch, on Shipboard, a division of the crew into two—or if it be a large crew into three—sections, that one set of men may have charge of the vessel while the others rest. The day and night are divided into watches of four hours each, except the period from 4 to 8 P.M., which is divided into two dog-watches of two hours' duration each. The object of the dog-watches is to prevent the same men being always on duty at the same hours.