Watches

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Watches \Watch"es\ (-[e^]z), n. pl. (Bot.)
     The leaves of {Saracenia flava}. See {Trumpets}.
     [1913 Webster]

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:



  Watches
     the periods into which the time between sunset and sunrise was
     divided. They are so called because watchmen relieved each other
     at each of these periods. There are frequent references in
     Scripture to the duties of watchmen who were appointed to give
     notice of the approach of an enemy (2 Sam. 18:24-27; 2 Kings
     9:17-20; Isa. 21:5-9). They were sometimes placed for this
     purpose on watch-towers (2 Kings 17:9; 18:8). Ministers or
     teachers are also spoken of under this title (Jer. 6:17; Ezek.
     33:2-9; Heb. 13:17).
     
       The watches of the night were originally three in number, (1)
     "the beginning of the watches" (Lam. 2:19); (2) "the middle
     watch" (Judg. 7:19); and (3) "the morning watch" (Ex. 14:24; 1
     Sam. 11:11), which extended from two o'clock to sunrise. But in
     the New Testament we read of four watches, a division probably
     introduced by the Romans (Matt. 14:25; Mark 6:48; Luke 12:38).
     (See {DAY}.)