1. (nautical) each of the eight half-hour units of nautical time signaled by strokes of a ship's bell; eight bells signals 4:00, 8:00, or 12:00 o'clock, either a.m. or p.m
   "The ship's bell rang six times, indicating it was 3:00 or 7:00";
   - bell

Derived forms: ship's bells

Type of: time unit, unit of time

Encyclopedia: Ship's bell