watch chain

American  

noun

1. a chain, frequently of gold or silver, attached to a pocket watch, serving as an ornament and, when passed through a buttonhole in the vest, as a guard against loss or theft of the watch.

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watch chain British  

noun

1. a chain used for fastening a pocket watch to the clothing See also fob 1

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Etymology

Origin of watch chain

First recorded in 1730–40

Example Sentences

It seems that the pandemic helped turbocharge the market, said Steven Kaiser, the president and chief executive of Kennedy USA, a watch chain based in Australia.

From New York Times • Mar. 24, 2022

The suit is by British designer Ozwald Boateng, and everything about it is glorious: the subtle print, the vibrant hue, the unexpected length of the coat, the watch chain.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 12, 2021

The sale at Boldon Auction Galleries in South Tyneside also included a plaster cast of his face and hands, and a silver watch chain he wore at work.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2019

He was dandyish: as a student at Cambridge he wore frock coats and spats, and as a Member of Parliament he always wore a waistcoat with a watch chain.

From The New Yorker • Jun. 28, 2018

I slipped my watch chain through my waistcoat buttonhole and straightened the fob, a Romanian silver leu whose details were worn to shadows.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros