noun.
Either of two short periods of watch duty, from 4 to 6 PM or 6 to 8 PM.
noun.
A late night shift.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
noun.Nautical, a watch of two hours, arranged so as to alter the watches kept from day to day by each division of the crew. The first dog-watch is from 4 to 6 p. m., the second from 6 to 8 p. m. See watch.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
noun.
A half watch; a watch of two hours, of which there are two, the first dogwatch from 4 to 6 o'clock, p. m., and the second dogwatch from 6 to 8 o'clock, p. m.
noun.Aboard a ship, either of the two short two-hour watches that take place between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
noun.
A night shift, or other very late or early period of duty.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
noun.
either of two short watches: from 4-6 pm or 6-8 pm
Word Usage
"The officers who came to Walker's aid had worked the "dogwatch" or overnight shift with him on the North Side for most of their time with the department."