night watchman

American  

Or night-watchman

noun

1. watchman.

2. Cricket. a batsman who is sent in to bat just before the end of a day's play and continues his innings on the next day of play.

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night watchman British  

noun

1. Also called: night watch.  a person who keeps guard at night on a factory, public building, etc

2. cricket a batsman sent in to bat to play out time when a wicket has fallen near the end of a day's play

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Etymology

Origin of night watchman

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

night watchman

Dick ordered Edward and Glenn Juenke, the night watchman, to begin evacuating Bug House and two other cabins by the river.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 18, 2026

He claimed the duo pushed past the night watchman, collected the artwork and drove to a block of flats in the Isle of Dogs where Mr Love unloaded the Banksy.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2025

A night watchman alone would not make or break a new development, but this is one of many such provisions, often motivated by fire safety, that stack up in the code every three years.

From Slate ● Feb. 28, 2025

Last month, Richard Abath, the night watchman who mistakenly allowed in the thieves, died at 57.

From New York Times ● Mar. 18, 2024

The only sound, just before dawn, was a night watchman, far away down a lonely street, walking along in the darkness, humming a very strange song....

From "The Martian Chronicles" by Ray Bradbury