Množina: watches
ETYM Old Eng. wacche, as. waecce, from wacian to wake; akin to Dutch wacht, waak, German wacht, wache. Related to Wake.
(Irregular plural: watches).
1. A small portable timepiece; SYN. ticker.
2. A purposeful surveillance to guard or observe; SYN. vigil.
3. A period of time (4 or 2 hours) during which some of a ship's crew are on duty.
4. The period during which someone (especially a guard) is on duty.
Portable timepiece. In the early 20th century increasing miniaturization, mass production, and, in World War I, the advantages of the wristband led to the watch moving from the pocket to the wrist. Watches were also subsequently made waterproof, antimagnetic, self-winding, and shock-resistant. In 1957 the electric watch was developed, and in the 1970s came the digital watch, which dispensed with all moving parts.
History.
Traditional mechanical watches with analog dials (hands) are based on the invention by Peter Henlein (14801542) of the mainspring as the energy store. By 1675 the invention of the balance spring allowed watches to be made small enough to move from waist to pocket. By the 18th century pocket-watches were accurate, and by the 20th century wristwatches were introduced. In the 1950s battery-run electromagnetic watches were developed; in the 1960s electronic watches were marketed, which use the piezoelectric oscillations of a quartz crystal to mark time and an electronic circuit to drive the hands. In the 1970s quartz watches without moving parts were developedthe solid-state watch with a display of digits. Some include a tiny calculator and such functions as date, alarm, stopwatch, and reminder beeps.
ETYM Cf. as. woeccan, wacian. Related to Watch, Wake.
1. To see or view; SYN. view, see, catch, take in.
2. To observe with attention; SYN. look on.
3. To look attentively.
4. To follow with the eyes or the mind; SYN. observe, follow, watch over, keep an eye on.
5. To be vigilant, be on the lookout, be on one's guard, be careful; SYN. look out, watch out.
wasty · wat · Wataga · Watauga · watch · watcha · watchability · watchable · watch a crowd · watch after
watch · watcha · watchability · watchable · watch a crowd · watch after · watch and ward · watch a person's back · watch a procession pass · watchband
watchability · watchable · watch a crowd · watch after · watch and ward · watch a person's back · watch a procession pass · watchband · watch bands · watch-bell · watch-bill
watchable · watch a crowd · watch after · watch and ward · watch a person's back · watch a procession pass · watchband · watch bands · watch-bell · watch-bill · watchboat
watch · watcha · watchability · watchable · watch a crowd · watch after · watch and ward · watch a person's back · watch a procession pass · watchband · watch bands
Množina: watch and wards
1. Continuous unbroken vigilance and guard
2. Service as a watchman or sentinel required from a feudal tenant
watcha · watchability · watchable · watch a crowd · watch after · watch and ward · watch a person's back · watch a procession pass · watchband · watch bands · watch-bell
Singular of watch bands is watch band.
watch after · watch and ward · watch a person's back · watch a procession pass · watchband · watch bands · watch-bell · watch-bill · watchboat · watch box · watch cap
Množina: watch boxes
watchband · watch bands · watch-bell · watch-bill · watchboat · watch box · watch cap · watch-care · watch case · watch chain · watch chains
Množina: watch caps
A knitted dark blue wool cap worn by seamen in cold or stormy weather.
A knitted close-fitting usually navy-blue cap worn especially by enlisted men in the United States navy in cold or stormy weather.
watch bands · watch-bell · watch-bill · watchboat · watch box · watch cap · watch-care · watch case · watch chain · watch chains · watch-charm
Množina: watch cases
The metal case in which the works of a watch are housed. SYN. watch-case, watchcase
watch-bill · watchboat · watch box · watch cap · watch-care · watch case · watch chain · watch chains · watch-charm · watch children · watch-cloak
Množina: watch chains
fob · watch guard
watchboat · watch box · watch cap · watch-care · watch case · watch chain · watch chains · watch-charm · watch children · watch-cloak · watch closely