night watch

noun

1. a watch or guard kept during the night.

2. a person or the persons keeping such a watch.

3. Usually night watches the periods or divisions into which the night was divided in ancient times.

night watch

noun

1. a watch or guard kept at night, esp for security

2. the period of time the watch is kept

3. a person who keeps such a watch; night watchman

Other Word Forms

• night watching noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of night watch¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English