Dog watch

[1] The Oxford English Dictionary states that the word 'dogwatch' is a direct translation from either German or Dutch of a similar term.

It originally referred to the night-watch on ships — that is, the time when (on land) all but the dogs were asleep.

Stephen Maturin of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey–Maturin series retells the 19th century humourist Theodore Hook's pun that the dog watch is so-named because it is "cur-tailed" ("curtailed", i.e.

[4] The traditional watch system arose from sailing ships of the late 19th century and was used by the Royal Navy and many other Commonwealth navies.

The Royal Navy traditional submarine three watch system is 2 on 4 off during the day (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and 3 on 6 off during the night (8 p.m. to 8 a.m.).