. (Naut.) A detail of one or more men who keep watch on deck at night when a vessel is at anchor. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. to watch birds, especially in their natural habitats, for enjoyment or as a hobby; to bird{ 3 }. [ PJC ]

n. one who enjoys watching birds, especially to find and identify a variety of birds in their natural habitats; a birder{ 2 }. [ PJC ]

n. 1. (Zool.) (a) A small beetle (Anobium tessellatum and other allied species). By forcibly striking its head against woodwork it makes a ticking sound, which is a call of the sexes to each other, but has been imagined by superstitious people to presage death. (b) A small wingless insect, of the family Psocidæ, which makes a similar but fainter sound; -- called also deathtick. [ 1913 Webster ]

She is always seeing apparitions and hearing deathwatches. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

I did not hear the dog howl, mother, or the deathwatch beat. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The guard set over a criminal before his execution. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Naut.) A half watch; a watch of two hours, of which there are two, the first dogwatch from 4 to 6 o'clock, p. m., and the second dogwatch from 6 to 8 o'clock, p. m. Totten. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To exceed in watching. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To watch too much. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To weary or exhaust by watching. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A swath. [ Obs. ] Tusser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A piece, pattern, or sample, generally of cloth. Halliwell. Jamieson. [ 1913 Webster ]

See obnoxious.
See observable.
See observant.
See obstructive.
See obvious.
See official.
See officious.
See oppressive.
See ordinary.
See ordinate.
See original.
See ornamental.
See orthodox.
See ostentatious.
See pacifiable.
See pacific.
See painful.
See palatable.
See parallelable.
See pardonable.
See partable.
See participant.
See passionate.
See pastoral.
See pathetic.
See patriotic.
See peaceable.
See peaceful.
See pedantic.
See perceivable.
See perceptible.
See perilous.
See permanent.
See personable.
See perspirable.
See persuadable.
See persuasive.
See philanthropic.
See philosophic.
See philosophical.
See physical.
See picturesque.
See pierceable.
See pitiful.
See plain.
See plausible.
See plausive.
See pleadable.
See pleasurable.
See pliable.
See pliant.
See plumb.
See poetic.
See poetical.
See political.
See popular.
See populous.
See portable.
See potable.
See precarious.
See precise.
See pregnant.
See prejudicate.
See prelatical.
See premeditable.
See presentable.
See preservable.
See presumptuous.
See pretentious.
See pretty.
See prevalent.
See priestly.
See primitive.
See princely.
See procurable.
See producible.
See productive.
See professional.
See profitable.
See prolific.
See pronounceable.
See prophetic.
See propitious.
See proportionable.
See proportionate.
See prosperous.
See provable.
See punctilious.
See punctual.
See punishable.
See pure.
See qualifiable.
See quenchable.
See quiet.
See rational.
See readable.
See reasonable.
See recallable.
See reclaimable.
See recognizable.
See reconcilable.
See recoverable.
See recumbent.
See reformable.
See refusable.
See regardable.
See regardant.
See relative.
See relievable.
See reluctant.
See remarkable.
See remediable.
See rememberable.
See remorseful.
See removable.
See remunerative.
See repairable.
See repealable.
See repentant.
See reprovable.
See repugnant.
See requisite.
See requitable.
See resolvable.
See respectable.
See restful.
See retentive.
See returnable.
See revengeful.
See ridable.
See ridiculous.
See rightful.
See romantic.
See rough.
See royal.
See ruinable.
See ruly.
See sacrificial.
See safe.
See sage.
See sailable.
See salable.
See sane.
See sanguine.
See sanitary.
See satisfactory.
See satisfiable.
See saturable.
See savory.
See scalable.
See scaly.
See scholarly.
See scholastic.
See scientific.
See scornful.
See scriptural.
See sculptural.
See seaworthy.
See sectarian.
See secular.
See sedentary.
See selfish.
See sentient.
See sentimental.
See serviceable.
See severe.
See shamefaced.
See shamefast.
See shapely.
See shy.
See sick.
See sicker.
See sightly.
See simple.
See sinewy.
See sizable.
See sleek.
See slumberous.
See sly.
See smooth.
See smotherable.
See smutty.
See sober.
See sociable.
See social.
See solemn.
See soliciutous.
See solvable.
See speakable.
See speedy.
See spiritual.
See spontaneous.
See sportful.
See sportsmanlike.
See statutable.
See steadfast.
See steady.
See stormy.
See stout.
See strong.
See subduable.
See subject.
See submissive.
See subordinate.
See substantial.
See successive.
See succorable.
See suggestive.
See suitable.
See sunny.
See superfluous.
See supple.
See sure.
See surpassable.
See susceptible.
See suspect.
See suspectable.
See suspicious.
See sustainable.
See sweet.
See syllogistical.
See symbolic.
See sympathetic.
See systematic.
See tamable.
See tame.
See teachable.
See technical.
See tellable.
See tenable.
See tender.
See terrestrial.
See terrific.
See thankful.
See theological.
See thinkable.
See thirsty.
See thorny.
See thoughtful.
See tidy.
See tillable.
See toothsome.
See touchable.
See traceable.
See tractable.
See tragic.
See tranquil.
See transferable.
See translatable.
See transmutable.
See transparent.
See transpassable.
See traversable.
See tremulous.
See trimphant.
See trustworthy.
See trusty.
See tumultous.
See tunable.
See uniform.
See usable.
See useful.
See vanquishable.
See variant.
See venerable.
See venomous.
See veracious.
See verdant.
See veritable.
See vigilant.
See vigorous.
See virtuous.
See vital.
See vitrifiable.
See vocal.
See voidable.
See voluptuous.
See voyageable.
See vulgar.
See walkable.
See warlike.
See watchful.
See watery.
See wealthy.
See wearable.
See weary.
See welcome.
See wet.
See wholesome.
See wieldsome.
See willful.
See wily.
See witty.
See womanly.
See workable.
See workmanlike.
See worldly.
See worshipful.
See wrathful.
See writable.
See zealous.
------ and the like.
[ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. wacche, AS. wæcce, fr. wacian to wake; akin to D. wacht, waak, G. wacht, wache. √134. See Wake, v. i. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act of watching; forbearance of sleep; vigil; wakeful, vigilant, or constantly observant attention; close observation; guard; preservative or preventive vigilance; formerly, a watching or guarding by night. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shepherds keeping watch by night. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

All the long night their mournful watch they keep. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Watch was formerly distinguished from ward, the former signifying a watching or guarding by night, and the latter a watching, guarding, or protecting by day Hence, they were not unfrequently used together, especially in the phrase to keep watch and ward, to denote continuous and uninterrupted vigilance or protection, or both watching and guarding. This distinction is now rarely recognized, watch being used to signify a watching or guarding both by night and by day, and ward, which is now rarely used, having simply the meaning of guard, or protection, without reference to time. [ 1913 Webster ]

Still, when she slept, he kept both watch and ward. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ward, guard, or custodia, is chiefly applied to the daytime, in order to apprehend rioters, and robbers on the highway . . . Watch, is properly applicable to the night only, . . . and it begins when ward ends, and ends when that begins. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who watches, or those who watch; a watchman, or a body of watchmen; a sentry; a guard. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch; go your way, make it as sure as ye can. Matt. xxvii. 65. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The post or office of a watchman; also, the place where a watchman is posted, or where a guard is kept. [ 1913 Webster ]

He upbraids Iago, that he made him
Brave me upon the watch. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The period of the night during which a person does duty as a sentinel, or guard; the time from the placing of a sentinel till his relief; hence, a division of the night. [ 1913 Webster ]

I did stand my watch upon the hill. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Might we but hear . . .
Or whistle from the lodge, or village cock
Count the night watches to his feathery dames. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A small timepiece, or chronometer, to be carried about the person, the machinery of which is moved by a spring. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. --
Watch guard, a chain or cord by which a watch is attached to the person. --
Watch gun (Naut.), a gun sometimes fired on shipboard at 8 p. m., when the night watch begins. --
Watch light, a low-burning lamp used by watchers at night; formerly, a candle having a rush wick. --
Watch night, The last night of the year; -- so called by the Methodists, Moravians, and others, who observe it by holding religious meetings lasting until after midnight. --
Watch paper, an old-fashioned ornament for the inside of a watch case, made of paper cut in some fanciful design, as a vase with flowers, etc. --
Watch tackle (Naut.), a small, handy purchase, consisting of a tailed double block, and a single block with a hook. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ Cf. AS. wœccan, wacian. √134. See Watch, n., Wake, v. i. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To be awake; to be or continue without sleep; to wake; to keep vigil. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have two nights watched with you. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Couldest thou not watch one hour ? Mark xiv. 37. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be attentive or vigilant; to give heed; to be on the lookout; to keep guard; to act as sentinel. [ 1913 Webster ]

Take ye heed, watch and pray. Mark xiii. 33. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Son gave signal high
To the bright minister that watched. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be expectant; to look with expectation; to wait; to seek opportunity. [ 1913 Webster ]

My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning. Ps. cxxx. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To remain awake with any one as nurse or attendant; to attend on the sick during the night; as, to watch with a man in a fever. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Naut.) To serve the purpose of a watchman by floating properly in its place; -- said of a buoy. [ 1913 Webster ]

To watch over, to be cautiously observant of; to inspect, superintend, and guard. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Watched p. pr. & vb. n. Watching. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To give heed to; to observe the actions or motions of, for any purpose; to keep in view; not to lose from sight and observation; as, to watch the progress of a bill in the legislature. [ 1913 Webster ]

Saul also sent messengers unto David's house to watch him, and to slay him. 1 Sam. xix. 11 [ 1913 Webster ]

I must cool a little, and watch my opportunity. Landor. [ 1913 Webster ]

In lazy mood I watched the little circles die. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To tend; to guard; to have in keeping. [ 1913 Webster ]

And flaming ministers, to watch and tend
Their earthy charge. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Paris watched the flocks in the groves of Ida. Broome. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

n. A dog kept to watch and guard premises or property, and to give notice of the approach of intruders. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who watches; one who sits up or continues; a diligent observer; specifically, one who attends upon the sick during the night. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. (Bot.) The leaves of Saracenia flava. See Trumpets. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Probably from F. vaciet bilberry, whortleberry; cf. L. vaccinium blueberry, whortleberry. ] Pale or light blue. [ Obs. ] “Watchet mantles.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who stares in Germany at watchet eyes? Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Full of watch; vigilant; attentive; careful to observe closely; observant; cautious; -- with of before the thing to be regulated or guarded; as, to be watchful of one's behavior; and with against before the thing to be avoided; as, to be watchful against the growth of vicious habits. “Many a watchful night.” Shak. “Happy watchful shepherds.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

'Twixt prayer and watchful love his heart dividing. Keble. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Vigilant; attentive; cautious; observant; circumspect; wakeful; heedful. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Watch"ful*ly, adv. -- Watch"ful*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Watchhouses 1. A house in which a watch or guard is placed. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A place where persons under temporary arrest by the police of a city are kept; a police station; a lockup. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One whose occupation is to make and repair watches. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Watchmen [ 1913 Webster ]

1. One set to watch; a person who keeps guard; a guard; a sentinel. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Specifically, one who guards a building, or the streets of a city, by night. [ 1913 Webster ]

Watchman beetle (Zool.), the European dor. --
Watchman's clock, a watchman's detector in which the apparatus for recording the times of visiting several stations is contained within a single clock. --
Watchman's detector, or
Watchman's time detector, an apparatus for recording the time when a watchman visits a station on his rounds. --
Watchman's rattle, an instrument having at the end of a handle a revolving arm, which, by the action of a strong spring upon cogs, produces, when in motion, a loud, harsh, rattling sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A religious meeting held in the closing hours of the year. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. A tower in which a sentinel is placed to watch for enemies, the approach of danger, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A word given to sentinels, and to such as have occasion to visit the guards, used as a signal by which a friend is known from an enemy, or a person who has a right to pass the watch from one who has not; a countersign; a password. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A sentiment or motto; esp., one used as a rallying cry or a signal for action. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor deal in watchwords overmuch. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]