Note: Watches are often distinguished by the kind of
escapement used, as an {anchor watch}, a {lever watch},
a {chronometer watch}, etc. (see the Note under
{Escapement}, n., 3); also, by the kind of case, as a
{gold} or {silver watch}, an {open-faced watch}, a
{hunting watch}, or {hunter}, etc.
6. (Naut.)
(a) An allotted portion of time, usually four hour for
standing watch, or being on deck ready for duty. Cf.
{Dogwatch}.
(b) That part, usually one half, of the officers and crew,
who together attend to the working of a vessel for an
allotted time, usually four hours. The watches are
designated as the {port watch}, and the {starboard
watch}.
{Anchor watch} (Naut.), a detail of one or more men who keep
watch on deck when a vessel is at anchor.
{To be on the watch}, to be looking steadily for some event.
{Watch and ward} (Law), the charge or care of certain
officers to keep a watch by night and a guard by day in
towns, cities, and other districts, for the preservation
of the public peace. --Wharton. --Burrill.
{Watch and watch} (Naut.), the regular alternation in being
on watch and off watch of the two watches into which a
ship's crew is commonly divided.
{Watch barrel}, the brass box in a watch, containing the
mainspring.
{Watch bell} (Naut.), a bell struck when the half-hour glass
is run out, or at the end of each half hour. --Craig.
{Watch bill} (Naut.), a list of the officers and crew of a
ship as divided into watches, with their stations.
--Totten.
{Watch case}, the case, or outside covering, of a watch;
also, a case for holding a watch, or in which it is kept.
{Watch chain}. Same as {watch guard}, below.
{Watch clock}, a watchman's clock; see under {Watchman}.
{Watch fire}, a fire lighted at night, as a signal, or for
the use of a watch or guard.
{Watch glass}.
(a) A concavo-convex glass for covering the face, or dial,
of a watch; -- also called {watch crystal}.
(b) (Naut.) A half-hour glass used to measure the time of
a watch on deck.
2. A dog that scents game, or is trained to the chase; a
hunting dog. --Shak.
3. A horse used in the chase; especially, a thoroughbred,
bred and trained for hunting.
4. One who hunts or seeks after anything, as if for game; as,
a fortune hunter a place hunter.
No keener hunter after glory breathes. --Tennyson.
5. (Zo["o]l.) A kind of spider. See {Hunting spider}, under
{Hunting}.
6. A hunting watch, or one of which the crystal is protected
by a metallic cover.
{Hunter's room}, the lunation after the harvest moon.
{Hunter's screw} (Mech.), a differential screw, so named from
the inventor. See under {Differential}.