eight bells
Nautical shift change
Eight bells is a time signal in naval tradition, marking the end of a four-hour watch.
Ship's bells ring in a pattern from one to eight, with eight bells indicating watch change at 4:00, 8:00, or 12:00.
The phrase also serves as a euphemism for death among sailors—the final watch ended: He answered eight bells last Tuesday.
- chronometerPrecision timekeeping instrument
- first watchEvening maritime duty period
- deckShip's flat surface
- all hands on deckEveryone must participate
- watchPortable timekeeping device
relief · sailor · old salt · clang · sea shanty · anchor's aweigh · Greenwich Mean Time · sextant · captain's log · hourglass · dog watch · ship's log · celestial navigation · clapper · shift · mate · hands · chime
- nautical termsahoy, afloat, aye aye, aye-aye, becalmed
- Royal NavyRoyal Navy, admiral, warship, HMS Victory, battleship
- naval traditionscrossing the line, watches, ship christening, colors, flag etiquette
- ship timewatch, first watch, morning watch, dog watch, midwatch
timekeeping system
eight bellsstandard time
Regional clock convention
wall clock · church bells · town clock · noon · wristwatch
eight, bells, bell, eighty, eighteen, eighth, eighths, eighties, eighteenth