watch fire

American

noun

a fire maintained during the night as a signal and for providing light and warmth for guards.

watch fire British

noun

a fire kept burning at night as a signal or for warmth and light by a person keeping watch

"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

Etymology

Origin of watch fire

First recorded in 1795–1805

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.

They often stop to watch fire trucks, which he adores.

From New York Times

“You can watch fires burn in Ferguson, and cluck your tongue in concern and sadness. But it doesn’t seem like it can happen in your hometown,” says Diamond.

From US News

You can watch fires burn in Ferguson, and cluck your tongue in concern and sadness.

From Forbes

As I wrote this, the city of Ferguson and the people of Ferguson continued to watch fires burn some of their businesses, cars and city streets.

From US News

The watch fires of the enemy's camp could scarcely be discerned through the gloom, and dead silence reigned over both encampments.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023