wat 
watl (wot), V. t. An obsolete or dialectal form 
of wot. See wit^. 
wat2 (wiit), a. [A Seotoh form of icet^.^ 1. 
Wet. — 2, Addicted to driukiijg; droughty. 
wat3 (wot), H. [Early mod. E. watte; a eor- 
riiptiou of fValtf abbr. of Walter. Cf. Watt aud 
WattSj as surnames.] An old familiar name for 
a hare. 
I wolil my m.-ister were a watt 
& my »>oke a wyUl Catt, 
& a brase of grehv)wndi8 in his toppe. 
I wold be glade for to se that I 
Babees Book (E. E, T. S.), p. 404. 
Thus, onee concluded, out the teazers run, 
And iu full cry and 3i)eed, till Wat's undone. 
it, Fletcher's h'pi'jrams, p. 139. (Nares.) 
And when th«>u hast on foot the purblind hare, 
Hark the poor wretch. . . . 
By this, poor Wat, far off upon a hill, 
Stands on his hinder le^ with listening ear. 
Shak.^ V'euus and Adonis, 1. 6!>7. 
wat*t, «. [Perhaps a var. of icight^.] A fellow. 
Ffor be my thryfte I dare sweryn at this seyl, 
je xal fynde hym a strawnge tcatt ! 
Coventry Mytilenes, p. 294. 
wat^, «• A dialectal form of W(tte for whote, a 
variant of kot^. 
wat® (wot), adv. [Origin obscure; prob. for 
what,] Certainly; indeed. [Prov. Eng.] 
watap, watapeh ( wot'ap, wot'u-pe), n. [Amer. 
Ind.J The long slender rootH of the white spruce, 
Fieea alba, which are used by cauoe-makers in 
northwestern North America for biudiug toge- 
ther the strips of birch-bark. 
watch (woeh), n. [< ME. icacvhe, icceche^ < AS. 
icxcce^ watch, watching, < wacaHj wake: see 
wake'^.] If. The state of being awake; wake- 
fulne.'*8. 
To lie in watch there and to think on him. 
Skak., Cynibeline, iii. 4. 43. 
2. A keeping awake for the purpose of attend- 
ing, guarding, or preserving ; attendance with- 
outsleep; preservative or preventive vigilance; 
vigil. 
Travellers always lie in the boat, and keep a watch to 
defend themselves against any attack. 
Pocoeke, Description of the E;ist, I. 70. 
We were told to keep good watch here all niyht, that 
there were triwps of robbers on the east-side of the water 
who had lately plundered some boats. 
Bruce, S<jurce of the Nile, L H4. 
3. A wake. See wakeA, h., L*. 
Oon cresset ... to be born bifcjrn tbf Baillies of the 
seid cite[Worcester], in the Vigilleof tbe natiuiteof Seynt 
John Baptiste, at the comyn Wacrhe of the seiil cite; and 
the wanfeyns of the seid crafte, and alle the bole crafte, 
Bhallen wayte vppon the seid Kaillies Jn the seid Vigille, 
at the seid Waccke, in ther best arraye hurneaid. 
EwjlUh GUdn (E. E. T. S.X p. 408. 
4. Close, constant observation ; vigilant atten- 
tion; careful, continued notice; supervision; 
vigilance; outlook: as, to be on tho watrh. 
When I had lost one shaft, 
I shot his fellow of the self-same flight 
The self-same way with more advised watch. 
To nnd the other f<»rlb. Shak., M. of V., i. 1. 14ii. 
There [the troutl lies at theiro^cAfnrany Ily or minnow 
that comes near to him. 
/. Walton, Ciiniplfte An;;ler, p. 70. 
Xor couhl she otherwise account for the judge's quies- 
cent mood than by supi>4)si[ivr him craftily 4in the watch, 
while Clifford devebtped these symidonis of a distracted 
mind. Hawthorne, Seven Gables, xvi. 
6, A person, or number of persons, whose duty 
it is to watch over tlir persons, j)ropprty. or in- 
terests of others ; a watchman, or body of 
watchmen; a sentinel; a sentry; guard. 
Such, they say, as stami in narrow lanes, 
And beat our watch, and rob our passengers. 
Shale, Rich. II., v. 3. 8. 
Home in a coacli, round by the Wall, wliert; wo met so 
many stops by the Watch^x that it cost us murb time and 
some trouble, and more money, t*) every Watch, to them 
to drink. i'epj/", Diary, III. 410. 
6. The period of time during which one person 
or body of persons w:it<'h or stan<i sentinel, or 
the time from onerelief of sentinels to another; 
hence, a division of the niglit, when the pre- 
cautionary setting of awateli is most generally 
necessary; period of time; liour. The Jews, like 
the Greeks' and Ronians, liivided the nj^ht into military 
watches Instead of hours, each watch representing the 
period for which ea*'b separate body of sentinels remained 
on duty. The proper .Jewish reckoning recognized only 
three such watches: the flrst (lasting from sunset till 
ftbrmt 10 P. M.X the sectnd or middle watch (\() P. m. to 
2 A. M.), and the third, or momiutj watch (from 2 A. M. till 
sanrise). After the establishment of the Roman power 
they were increased to four, which were named as fir»t, 
teeowf, etc., or by the terms evm, midni'jht, cock-crowimj, 
and nufmim/j, these terndnating respectively at P. M., 
midnight, 3 A. M., and 6 a. m. 
7. Naui.\ (a) The period of time occupied by 
each part of a ship's crew alt<'rnately while on 
duty. Tlie period of time called a watch is four hours, 
6835 
the reckoning beginning at noon or midnight. Between 
4 and 8 P. M. the time is divided into two short watches, or 
dog-watches, in order to prevent the constant recurrence 
of duty to the same portion of the crew during the same 
hours. Thus, the period from 12 to 4 P. M. is called the 
afternoon watch, from 4 to 6 the Jirst dog-watch, from 
6 to 8 the necond dog-watch, from 8 to 12 the first night 
watch, from midnight to 4 A. M. the middle watch, from 4 
to 8 the morning watch, and from 8 to 12 noon the forenoon 
watch. When this alternation of watches is kept up dur- 
ing the 24 hours, it is termed having ivatch and watch, iu 
distinction from keeping all hands at work during one or 
more watches. 
After 2. or 3. watches more we were in 24. fadoms. 
Quoted in Capt. John Sinith's Works, I. 112. 
(b) A certain part of the officers and crew of a 
vessel who together attend to working her for 
an allotted time. The crew of every vessel while at 
sea is generally divided into two parts: the starboard 
watch, which in the merchant service is the captain's watch, 
and is often connnanded by the second mate ; and the port 
or larboard watch, which in the merchant service ia com- 
manded by the chief mate. In the British and United 
States navies these watches are commanded by the lieu- 
tenants successively. The anchor-watch is a small watch 
composed of one or two men appointed to look after the 
ship while at anchor or in port. 
8. Anything by which the progi'ess of time is 
perceived and measured, (at) A candle marked out 
into sections, each of which reciuireii a certain time to 
burn. 
Fill me a bowl of wine. Give me a watch. 
S/iaA-.,Rich. III., V. 3. 63. 
(b) A small portable timepiece or timekeeper that may 
i>e worn on the person, operated by power stored in a coiled 
spring, and capable of keeping time when held in any posi- 
tion. Watches were invented at Nuremberg about the be- 
ginning of the sixteenth century, and for a long time the 
wearing of a watch was considered in some degree a mark 
or proof of gentility. Thus Malvidio remarks in anticipa- 
tion of his gi-eat fortune : 
I frown the while; and perchance wind up my watch, or 
play with my— some rich jewel. Shak., T. N., ii. 5. 60. 
The new contrivance of applying precious stones to 
watches I had the good fortune to see wlien Mr. i'acio, 
the invenU)r, and an ingenious man. and Mr. Debaufre, 
the workman, presented their ivatchcs, to have the ap- 
probation of the Royal Society. 
W. Derham (Ellis's Lit. Letters, p. 173). 
A friend of mine had a watch given him when he was 
a boy, a "bull's eye," with a loose silver case that came 
off like an oyster-shell from its contents; you know them 
— the cases that you hang on your thumb, while the core, 
or the real watch, lies in your hand as naked as a peeled 
apple. O. W. Holmes, Professor, ii. 
9. 2)1. A name of tiie trunipetleaf, Sarracenia 
Jiava^ probably alluding to tlie resemblance 
of the flowers to watches. — 10. In pottery^ a 
trial piece of clay so placed in a kiln that it can 
be readily withdrawn to enable the workmen 
to judge by its a})pearance of the heat of the 
fire and tlie condition of the ware remaining in 
tlie saggars. — 11. In haic/,in<f, a company or 
flight, as of nightingales. -Beat of a watch. See 
beat i.— "Duplex watch, a watch haviu;,' two sets of teeth 
upon the rim of its escapement wheel. — Officer of the 
watch. .See(c«?cA-o_/ftc('r. — Paddy's watch. Sameasj^afZ- 
dt/irhnck, :i. Parish watch. See ^-wrw^.— The Black 
Watch, a -semi-niilitary organization in Ediidmrgb, Scot- 
bind, in the early part of the eighteenth century. From 
this a regiment of the liritish army was afterward formed, 
and the name was ultimately given to the 42d and 73d 
regiments, which are now the 1st and 2d liattalions of 
the lilack Watch or Royal Higlilanders.- To muster the 
watch. See mnxter.~To Stand a watch. See .stand. 
— Watch and ward, the old eustom of watching by 
night and by (lay in towns and cities. English writers up 
to the scventeeiitli century recognize a distinction between 
watch and ward, the former being used to signify a watch- 
ing an<i guarding by night, and the latter a watching, 
guarding, and protecting by day. Hence, when the terms 
were used in combination, especially in the phrase to 
keep watch ami ward, they implied a continuous and un- 
interrnjjted watehing and guarding, constant vigilance 
ajid protection by night and by day. 
It ya the Strongest towne of walls, towers, Bulwerks, 
wachcsand wardci that ever I saw in all my lytf. 
Torkington, Diaric of Kng. Travell, p. IG. 
I sawe at the towne of Braxima al the artillerie brought 
t<»getlier to y gates of your house ; I saw watch and warde 
kei)t round about your lodging. 
Guevara, Letters (tr. by Uellowes, 1577), p. 24(j. 
watch (woch), /■. [< ME. wacehen, wccchcn, < 
AS. wiccean, watcli, wake : see icake^, v., and ef. 
icafrh, n.'\ I. intrans. 1. To be awake; be or 
continue without sleep; keep vigil. 
lint if necessitie ct)mpell you to watch longer then ordi- 
nary, then be sure to augment your slcepe the next morn- 
ing. Babt'cs Book (E. E. T. S.), p. 2S2. 
As soon as I am dead. 
Come all and watch one night about my hearse. 
Beau, and Fl., Maid's Tragedy, ii. 1. 
2. To be attentive, circumspect, or vigilant; be 
closely observant ; notice carefully; give heed. 
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. 
Mat. xxvi. 41. 
Rooks, watching doubtfully as yon pass in the distance, 
rise into the air if you stop, 
//. Speiwer, Prin. of Soeiol., § 02. 
3. To act as a watchman, guard, sentinel, or 
the like ; keep watch. 
watch-clock 
The lieutenant to-night watches on the court of guard. 
Shak., Othello, ii. 1. 219. 
4. To look forward with expectation ; be ex- 
pectant; seek opportunity; wait. — 5. To act 
as attendant or nurse on the sick by night; 
remain awake to give attendance, assistance, 
or the like: as, to watch with a patient in a 
fever. — 6. To float on the surface of the water : 
said of a buoy,— To watch over, to be cautiously ol)- 
servant of; inspect; superintend and guard from error 
and dangei-; keep guard over. 
Watch over thyself, counsel thyself, judge thyself im- 
partially. Jer. Taylor. 
There is abundant cause to thiiik that every town in 
which the Lord Jesus Christ is worshipped hath an angel 
to watch over it. C. Mather, Mag. Chris., Hist. Boston. 
II. trans. 1. To look with close attention at 
or on ; keep carefully and constantly in view or 
supervision; keep a sharp lookout on or for; 
observe, notice, or regard with vigilance and 
care; keep an eye upon. 
Lie not a night from home ; watch me like Argns. 
Shak., M. of v., v. L 230. 
They are singled out, and all opportunities watched 
against them. Bacon, Political Eables, i., Expl. 
When Pitt entered Parliament, the whole political world 
was attentively watching the progress of an event which 
soon added great strength to the Opposition. 
Macawlay, William Pitt. 
2. To have in keeping; tend; guard; take care 
of. 
Flaming nnnisters to watch and tend 
Their earthy charge. Milton, P. L., ix. 156. 
Lord Brampton. Charges? For what? 
Sable. First, Twenty Guineas to my Lady's Woman for 
notice of your Death (a Fee I've before now known the 
Widow herself go lialfs in), but no matter for that. In the 
next place. Ten Pounds for watching you all your long Fit 
of Sickness last Winter. Steele, Grief A-la-Mode, ii. 1. 
Paris watch'd the Hocks in the groves of Ida. Broome. 
3. To look for; wait for. 
We will stand and watch your pleasure. 
Shak., J. C, iv. 3. 249. 
4t. To take or detect by lying in wait; surprise. 
Nay, do not fly ; I think we have watch'd you now. 
Shah.,-M. W. of W., V. 5. 107. 
5. Ill falconr I/, to keep awake ; keep from sleep, 
as a hawk, for the puii^ose of exhausting and 
taming it. 
My lord shall never rest ; 
I'll watch him tame, and talk him out of patience. 
Shak., Othello, iii. 3. 23. 
watch-bellt (woeh'bel), n. 1. An alarm-bell. 
They [Russian travelers] report that the Land of Mugalla 
reaches from Boghar to the north sea, and hath many 
Castles built of Stone four-square, with Towers at the 
Corners cover'd with glazed Tiles; andon the Gates Alarum 
Bells, or Watch-Bells, twenty pound weight of Metal. 
Milton, Hist. Moscovia, iii. 
2. The bell wliieli is struck every half-hour on 
board sliip to mark the time. Now called i'A/Vs 
hell. 
watch-hill (woch'bil), n. A list of the officers 
and erew of a ship, as divided into watches, to- 
gether with tlie several stations to which the 
men respectively belong. 
watch-hirtht (woch'berth), 71. [< watch, r., + 
obj. birth.'] A midwife. [Rare.] 
Th' eternnll Watch-births of thy sacred Wit. 
Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, ii., The Magnificence. 
watch-box (woch'boks), ti. A sentry-box. 
watch-candle (woch'kan''''dl), h. Same as 
watchin<j-ca)i(tlc. 
Were it not better for a man in a fair room to set up one 
great light, or branching candlestick of lights, than to go 
about with a snnUl watch candle into every corner'/ 
Bacon, Advancement of Learning, i. 45. 
Watchcase (woch'kas), n. 1. The outer case 
for a watch. Formerly it was often a hinged cover or 
box fitted closely over the watch proper, and having open- 
ings through which the dial appeared and the stem or 
ring projected. In modern watches this feature is gen- 
erally absent, and the watchcase is the metal covei', usmil- 
ly of gold or silver, which incloses the works. 
We now never see watch-cases made of other materials 
than the precious metals, or imitations thereof ; but then 
[reign of Queen Anne] beautiful cases were made of sha- 
green of various colours, or tortoiscshell inlaid or studded 
with gold, 
J. Ashton, Social Life in Reign of Queen Anne, J. 159. 
2. Same as icatch-pocket. — Sf, A sentry-box. 
[Rare.] 
thou dull god [sleep], why liest thou with the vile 
In loathsome beds, and Icavest the kingly couch 
A watch-case, or a common larum-bell? 
Shak., 2 lien. IV., iii. 1. 17. 
watchcase-CUtter (woeh'kas-kut*er), «. A 
macliine for cutting hinge-recesses in watch- 
eases. /■:,'. //. Kniffht. 
watch-clock (wocii'klok), n. If. An alarum. 
Pitwrfull Need (Arts ancient Dame and Keeper, 
The early natch-dock of the sloatlifiill sleeper). 
Sylvester, tr. of D\i Bartas's Weeks, ii., The Handy-Crafts. 
