dogwatch
Americannoun
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Nautical. either of two two-hour watches, the first from 4 to 6 p.m., the latter from 6 to 8 p.m.
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Also called sunrise watch, lobster trick, lobster shift. Journalism Slang. the period, after the regular editions of a newspaper have gone to press, during which staff personnel remain on duty to await any new developments that may warrant an extra issue.
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Informal. any night shift, especially the last or latest one.
noun
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either of two two-hour watches aboard ship, from four to six p.m. or from six to eight p.m
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a shift from midnight to six a.m. in a mine
Etymology
Origin of dogwatch
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Me and Smoltz started in September 16 as dogwatch radio team.”
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
I was on the larboard dogwatch this day, and so could observe the positioning of those ships, it appearing that we are preparing for some great action against the town of Norfolk.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
She'd come into stays about the middle of the morning watch, he said, and maybe toward three bells in the second dogwatch they'd have her on the other tack.
From Wide Courses by James B. (James Brendan) Connolly
He would never forget his first dogwatch, spent by the boatswain's side, pacing the poop deck.
From Fire Mountain A Thrilling Sea Story by Norman Springer
Yesterday morning, Mr. Hawkins," said he, "in the dogwatch, down came Doctor Livesey with a flag of truce.
From Treasure Island by Milo Winter
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
