ship's bell
Nautical watch signal
A ship's bell is a bell used aboard vessels to mark time in half-hour intervals throughout a watch.
The pattern runs from one bell to eight bells, then repeats—so eight bells signals the end of a four-hour watch.
The phrase eight bells also commemorates a sailor's death.
Ship's bells historically coordinated crew activities before reliable clocks were common at sea.
- nauticalOf ships and sailing
- watchPortable timekeeping device
- dog watchBrief evening shipboard shift
- anchor watchCrew monitoring moored vessel
- clangLoud metallic sound
brass · maritime · timekeeper · knot · helm · deck · crow's nest · galley · anchor · noon · chime · strike · foghorn · buoy · harbor · captain · first mate · sailor
- timekeepingclock, watch, watches, clocks, timer
- nauticalanchor, anchor chain, anchors, boat, boats
- nautical termsahoy, afloat, aye aye, aye-aye, becalmed
- Royal NavyRoyal Navy, admiral, warship, HMS Victory, battleship
- naval traditionscrossing the line, watches, colors, flag etiquette, naval uniforms
- ship timewatch, first watch, morning watch, dog watch, midwatch
ship's bellclock face
Numbered timepiece display
digital clock · sundial · analog watch · hourglass · wristwatch
ship's bellsignal flag
Nautical communication banner
semaphore · signal lamp · visual signal · flashing light · written notice
ship, bell, ships, bells, shipping, shipped, shipper, shipment, shipboard