watches

2 definitions found

watches - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

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

watches - Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary :

  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.)