night watch

American  

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.

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night watch British  

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

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Other Word Forms

• night watching noun

Etymology

Origin of night watch

before 1000; Middle English; Old English

Example Sentences

One morning soon after, as Giulia is chopping fruit and stirring porridge, the night watch tells her about an unusual little light that's been spotted on the horizon.

From BBC

Boylan, who had not ordered a roving night watch as people slept, was convicted in 2023 of seaman’s manslaughter and sentenced in May to four years in federal prison.

From Los Angeles Times

Hammoud and other top Arab American leaders were joined by dozens of supporters at an election night watch party at a restaurant in Dearborn to eat, dance and celebrate as the “uncommitted” votes rolled in.

From Seattle Times

On the other side, they passed trees down to the “night watch,” the worker who guards the stand at the corner on 124th and prepares the newest load for the next day’s customers.

From Los Angeles Times

Boylan had been a boat captain for 34 years and should have known the danger of fire, prosecutors said, and a roving night watch would have spotted the blaze before it raged out of control.

From Los Angeles Times