Posted by John Nichols on August 17, 2005 at 19:30:04 from 165.91.196.120 user Mcneacail.
Message sent at 3 bells on the Afternoon Watch
[In reference to the light sleeping of dogs, and the difficulty of telling whether, when their eyes are shut, they are asleep or not.]
1. Feigned or pretended sleep. Obs.
a1625
a1613 1711
a1613 OVERBURY A Wife (1638) 298 A jealous man sleepes dog-sleepes. a1625 FLETCHER Women Pleased III. iv. 1711 ADDISON Spect. No. 184 6 He is represented to have slept what the common People call a Dog's Sleep; or if his Sleep was real, his Wife was awake, and about her Business.
2. A light or fitful sleep, easily interrupted.
1708 1867
1822
1708 MOTTEUX Rabelais IV. lxiii. (1737) 258 How one might avoid Dog-sleep. 1822 DE QUINCEY Confess. Wks. V. 163 My sleep was never more than what is called dog-sleep; so that I could hear myself moaning; and very often I was awakened suddenly by my own voice. 1867 SMYTH Sailor's Word-bk., Dog-sleep, the uncomfortable fitful naps taken when all hands are kept up by stress.