night watchman
Americannoun
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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.
noun
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Also called: night watch. a person who keeps guard at night on a factory, public building, etc
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cricket a batsman sent in to bat to play out time when a wicket has fallen near the end of a day's play
Etymology
Origin of night watchman
First recorded in 1860–65
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Reyne took over as night watchman, with his tent on the asphalt in the parking lot behind.
From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026
At the time of the record destruction, which was revealed by a night watchman who saw it happening and saved some documents, UBS was under scrutiny for its wartime activities.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026
Last month, Richard Abath, the night watchman who mistakenly allowed in the thieves, died at 57.
From New York Times • Mar. 18, 2024
Prosecutors said the captain failed to have a night watchman or conduct fire drills as required by law.
From BBC • Nov. 7, 2023
Elizabeth had, of course, been invited before by other people—the night watchman, for example—but she had always said no.
From "Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
