Definition
midwatches
noun
- Plural of midwatch; the watch or shift on a ship from midnight to 4 a.m., or the sailors assigned to this duty.
Usage: nautical; chiefly British
Examples
- The crew rotated through the midwatches throughout the voyage.
- Sailors dreaded the midwatches because of the cold and darkness.
- During the midwatches, only essential personnel remained on deck.
- The captain assigned the most experienced sailors to the midwatches.
- Midwatches were typically the quietest time on the ship.