sentry

[sen-tree]

See more synonyms for sentry on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural sen·tries.

a soldier stationed at a place to stand guard and prevent the passage of unauthorized persons, watch for fires, etc., especially a sentinel stationed at a pass, gate, opening in a defense work, or the like.
a member of a guard or watch.

Origin of sentry

1605–15; short for sentrinel, variant of sentinel

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for sentry

Contemporary Examples

We found that the Sentry safe which contained our footage had indeed been under water.
Making 'The Dog': The Amazing True Story Behind ‘Dog Day Afternoon’
Allison Berg and Frank Keraudren
August 10, 2014
I shared the sentiments of the Fatah sentry who allowed me inside the walls of the Muqata in Ramallah.
I Traveled 6,000 Miles and a Lifetime to See the Pride Flag Fly at the U.S. Embassy in Israel
Jim Neal
June 30, 2014
He looked up at the sentry towers dotting the campus as the bus entered Kirkland.
Should Juvenile Criminals Be Sentenced Like Adults?
Clark Merrefield
November 26, 2012
The Sentry by Robert Crais The latest Joe Pike thrilling detective novel from New York Times bestselling author Robert Crais.
This Week's Hot Reads
The Daily Beast
January 4, 2011
The sentry at the front gate has no mechanism to compel incoming vehicles to stop.
'Wide Open to Attack'
Jeff Stein
November 6, 2009

Historical Examples

While these were being spoken, outside a sentry had challenged: "Samama!"
The Leopard Woman
Stewart Edward White
That was the first and last time that he ever left me on sentry all night.
The Autobiography of Sergeant William Lawrence
William Lawrence
I said, "Were you not with the officer when he placed me on sentry last night?"
The Autobiography of Sergeant William Lawrence
William Lawrence
No less inspiring was the revival of the Sentry on the 1st March 1917.
With Manchesters in the East
Gerald B. Hurst
The Sentry blossomed as the first English paper of the country.
With Manchesters in the East
Gerald B. Hurst

British Dictionary definitions for sentry

sentry

noun plural -tries

a soldier who guards or prevents unauthorized access to a place, keeps watch for danger, etc
the watch kept by a sentry

Word Origin

C17: perhaps shortened from obsolete centrinel, C16 variant of sentinel

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

Word Origin and History for sentry

n.

1610s, originally "watchtower;" perhaps a shortened variant of sentinel, which had a variant form centrinel (1590s); or perhaps worn down from sanctuary, on notion of "shelter for a watchman." Meaning "military guard posted around a camp" is first attested 1630s. Sentry-box is from 1728.

sentry

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}sentry

Examples from the Web for sentry

Contemporary Examples

We found that the Sentry safe which contained our footage had indeed been under water.

I shared the sentiments of the Fatah sentry who allowed me inside the walls of the Muqata in Ramallah.

He looked up at the sentry towers dotting the campus as the bus entered Kirkland.

The Sentry by Robert Crais The latest Joe Pike thrilling detective novel from New York Times bestselling author Robert Crais.

The sentry at the front gate has no mechanism to compel incoming vehicles to stop.

Historical Examples

While these were being spoken, outside a sentry had challenged: "Samama!"

That was the first and last time that he ever left me on sentry all night.

I said, "Were you not with the officer when he placed me on sentry last night?"

No less inspiring was the revival of the Sentry on the 1st March 1917.

The Sentry blossomed as the first English paper of the country.

sentry

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for sentry

n.

Origin of sentry