Re: Dog Watch

Posted by Bob on August 14, 2000

In Reply to: Dog Watch posted by Bruce Kahl on August 14, 2000

: : Origin of naval phrase "dog watch" please

: Dogwatch
: A dogwatch at sea is the period between 4 and 6 p.m, the first dogwatch, or the period between 6 and 8 p.m., the second dog watch. The watches aboard ships are:

: Noon to 4:00 p.m. Afternoon watch
: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. First dogwatch
: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Second dogwatch
: 8:00 p.m. to midnight 1st night watch
: Midnight to 4:00 a.m. Middle watch or mid watch
: 4:00 to 8:00 a.m. Morning watch
: 8:00 a.m. to noon Forenoon watch

: The dogwatches are only two hours each so the same Sailors aren't always on duty at the same time each afternoon. Some experts say dogwatch is a corruption of dodge watch and others associate dogwatch with the fitful sleep of Sailors called dog sleep, because it is a stressful watch. But no one really knows the origin of this term, which was in use at least back to 1700.

Might it have anything to do with Sirius, the Dog Star? It would become visible about that hour.... (just guessing...)