Dogwatch

//ˈdɒɡwɒt͡ʃ// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Aboard a ship, either of the two short two-hour watches that take place between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

    "[…] in the last dog-watch when the drawing near of twilight induced revery […]"

  2. 2
    either of two short watches: from 4-6 pm or 6-8 pm wordnet
  3. 3
    A night shift, or other very late or early period of duty. broadly

    "The girls we knew were all on the dogwatch, from four to twelve in the morning."

  4. 4
    A very brief period of naval service.

    "At that time, Captain Thomas G. Peyton, U.S. Navy, who had only served a dog watch as Captain of the Port at Noumea, New Caledonia, reported for this important billet."

Etymology

From dog + watch, perhaps a calque of German Hundewache.

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