watch tackle (wochtak"l)

Naut., a small tackle consisting of a double and single block with a fall. Also called handy - billy. By hauling every brace and bowline, and clapping watch tackles upon all the sheets and halyards, we managed to hold our own. R. H. Dana , Jr., Before the Mast, p. 250. See watch-telescope (woch'tele-skop), n. telescope.