morning watchn.
/ˌmɔːnɪŋ ˈwɒtʃ/, U.S. /ˌmɔrnɪŋ ˈwɑtʃ/ 1. Ancient History. The last of the three or four watches into which the night was divided in the ancient Roman and Jewish worlds. See watch n. 4.Chiefly in translations of and allusions to the Bible.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > day and night > night > [noun] > watch or period into which night was divided
watchc1000
night watchOE
quarterc1330
vigilc1380
wakingc1384
quarter-nightc1390
morning watch1535
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Sam. xi. 11 Saul..came in to the hoost aboute the mornynge watch, and smote the Ammonites.
1611 Bible (King James) Exod. xiv. 24 In the morning watch the Lord looked vnto the hoste of the Egyptians, through the pillar of fire. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xii. 207 All night he will pursue, but his approach Darkness defends between till morning Watch . View more context for this quotation
1749 C. Wesley Hymns & Sacred Poems (new ed.) I. cxlii. 244 Before the Morning Watch I rise, And wait to taste how good Thou art.
1830 E. Atherstone Fall of Nineveh II. xii. 235 But, at the morning watch, The Lord looked out from the cloud.
1970 Bible (New Eng.) 1 Sam. xi. 11 They forced their way right into the enemy camp during the morning watch and massacred the Ammonites.
2. Nautical. The watch between 4 and 8 a.m.; the person or people keeping the watch at that time.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > one who travels by water or sea > sailor > [noun] > crew > watch > period of a watch > specific
morning watch1598
dogwatch1657
dog1893
graveyard watch1927
1598 R. Barret Theorike & Pract. Mod. Warres 249 The discharging of the morning watch, by the sound of the drumme.
a1621 W. Strachey True Reportory Wracke Sir T. Gates in S. Purchas Pilgrimes (1625) IV. ix. vi. 1737 Vpon a sodaine, towards the morning watch, they lost the sight of it.
1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random I. xxiv. 223 In the morning watch, the captain went ashore in the pinnace.
1790 W. Bligh Narr. Mutiny on Bounty 1 The master had the first watch; the gunner the middle watch; and Mr. Christian, one of the mates, the morning watch.
1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast iii. 18 The larboard watch..go below until four in the morning, when they come on deck again and remain until eight; having what is called the morning watch.
1897 B. Stoker Dracula vii. 85 When morning watch came on deck could find no one except steersman.
1990 B. Cornwell Crackdown (BNC) 108 Thessy was fast asleep for he would be taking the morning watch.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1535