Definition

A short period of watch duty on a ship, typically lasting two hours, often occurring in the late afternoon or evening.

Example

During the dogwatch, the crew members took turns monitoring the ship's surroundings.

Conversation

I just finished my dogwatch shift and I'm so tired.

Wow, that's rough! How late were you working?

I was on duty from 6 to 8 PM, but it felt much longer.

I can imagine! Hopefully, you can get some rest now.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Dogwatch → The term 'dog' comes from Old English 'docga', meaning a powerful breed of dog, and 'watch' comes from Old English 'wæccan', meaning to be awake or to guard. The word 'dogwatch' refers to a period of time when a watch is kept, typically on a ship, often associated with the time when dogs are active or alert.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'powerful dog' ('docga') that is 'awake' ('wæccan') during a specific time to keep watch — that's what a dogwatch is.

Visually Confused Words