Nautical Term: Graveyard watch
Definition of Graveyard watch
Graveyard watch is the term given to the middle watch of the night, typically lasting from midnight to 4 a.m. This term originated from the high risk of ships encountering fog, icebergs, or other navigational hazards during this period.
For instance, in the log of the sailing vessel Sea Star on March 12, 1853, the following entry is recorded: During the graveyard watch, we encountered dense fog that almost brought us to a standstill. The skilled navigation of our captain, Joseph Pierce, saved us from potential disaster.
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