Watchstrap

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An article designed to fasten a timekeeping device to the wrist for both functionality and fashion
2. A strip of material used to attach a wristwatch securely around the wrist
3. A flexible band designed to hold a timepiece firmly on the wrist during wear

Etymology: Before the wristwatch existed, a watch was a pocket object, and a strap was simply a strip of leather or cloth used to fasten things together. The compound "watchstrap" joins those two plain words, and its meaning follows directly from them: a band that holds a timekeeping device against the wrist. The first half names the object, and the second names the band that attaches it to the body. The pairing makes sense once you recall how watches were carried. Pocket watches hung from chains or were tucked into waistcoats, so a strap had no obvious job until watches began to be worn on the arm. As wristwatches spread, the strap became the part that determined comfort and appearance, which is why the word now covers both practical fastening and style choices.

Synonyms: watchband, wristband