Naut. [f. WATCH sb. + BILL sb.3] (See quot. 1815.)
1813. Niles’ Weekly Reg., 10 July, 304/1. The Shannon had a crew of 376 picked men by her watch-bill.
1815. Falconer’s Dict. Marine (ed. Burney), Watch-Bill, a list of the petty officers, seamen, and marines, of a ship of war, which … points out the station of each man, and what watch he belongs to.
1875. Bedford, Sailor’s Pocket Bk., i. (ed. 2), 18. This abbreviated table is sufficiently compact to allow of its being copied into the watch-bill.
