night watch

noun

a watch or guard kept during the night.

a person or the persons keeping such a watch.

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

Origin of night watch

before 1000; Middle English; Old English

Related formsnight watching, noun

Night Watch, The

noun

a painting (1642) by Rembrandt.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for night watch

night watch

noun

a watch or guard kept at night, esp for security

the period of time the watch is kept

a person who keeps such a watch; night watchman

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012