† watch-clock Obs.
1. a. ? A time-piece actuated by a spring. b. ? A clock with a dial indicating minutes and seconds. Also watch pendulum clock.
| 1592 Dee Compend. Rehearsall in Chetham Misc. (1851) I. 29 An excellent watch-clock,..by which clock the tyme might sensibly be measured in the seconds of an houre. 1633 T. James Voy. Q b, A Watch-clocke, of sixe inches Diameter: and another lesser Watch. 1650 Trapp Comm. Exod. xxxv. 32 A certain artificer set a watch-clock upon a ring that Charls the Fifth wore upon his finger. 1671 Flamsteed in Rigaud Corr. Sci. Men (1841) II. 118, I spoke and wrote to my kinsman about a watch clock. Ibid. 121, I wrote by my coz. Wilson about procuring me a watch pendulum clock. |
2. An alarm clock. Cf. watch n. 19.
| 1598 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. i. iv. Handie Crafts 94 Pourfull Need (Arts ancient Dame and Keeper, The early watch-clock [Fr. resveille-matin] of the sloathfull sleeper). |