What are the origins of the term dog watch (ie a late night work shift)?

teash

Dog watch, in marine terminology, is a watch between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. The watch is divided in two halves. The name comec from the fact that someone tasked with one of these 'half' watches was said to be 'dodging the watch', or taking the 'dodge watch'. This became shorted to 'dog watch'. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_watch Aug 04 06, 6:08 AM

zbeckabee

The origin of the name is obscure. It was in use we know in the Seventeenth Century. In The Dog Watch No. 28 (1971) p. 91, a believable origin is given: "Dog" could have been a sailor's version of "dock", to shorten, because of the decreased duration of the Watch. To say "Docked Watch" is clumsy, but "Dog Watch" runs easily off the tongue. http://www.seastories.au.com/whatisdw.html Aug 04 06, 7:46 AM

elburcher

Dog watch is the name given to the 1600-1800 and the 1800-2000 watches aboard ship. The 1600-2000 4-hour watch was originally split to prevent men from always having to stand the same watches daily. As a result, sailors dodge the same daily routine, hence they are dodging the watch or standing the dodge watch. In its corrupted form, dodge became dog and procedure is referred to as “dogging the watch” or standing the “dog watch.” http://www.tpub.com/content/advancement/14145/css/14145_153.htm Aug 04 06, 11:14 AM