What is the origin of the word "Watch" to describe a portable time piece?

Question

I'm not looking for a history of watches, or time pieces, I have researched that already. I'm looking for the origin of the association of the word "watch" itself with portable time pieces, and how or why it came to be.

Answer 1

Maybe because it would have been used to tell when the beginning and end of a 'watch' was in the Military or on board a ship at sea?

I honestly don't know, but that'd be my best guess.


Doug

Answer 2

Here is the answer or etymology of the word "watch" and the source:

The meaning "small timepiece" is from 1588, developing from that of "a clock to wake up sleepers" (1440). Watchmaker is recorded from 1630; watchtower is attested from 1544.