watch night

American  

noun

1. the last night of the year, observed in a watch meeting.

2. watch meeting.

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watch night British  

noun

1. 1. the night of December 24, during which a service is held to mark the arrival of Christmas Day

   2. the night of December 31, during which a service is held to mark the passing of the old year and the beginning of the new

2. the service held on either of these nights

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Etymology

Origin of watch night

First recorded in 1735–45

Example Sentences

Back at the Pendry, you can stop at the Bar Pendry in the lobby for a cocktail, or head to Moonraker to watch night settle over the river in the distance.

From New York Times • Mar. 14, 2023

“It was to the point where we had a police watch night and day, making sure nobody was around the statue.”

From Seattle Times • Feb. 16, 2021

Lind, who lives in Florida, said he usually would not watch night games in the postseason, because they finish too late on the East Coast.

From New York Times • Sep. 9, 2017

On Whidby Island in Puget Sound, the farmers' beach patrol was on watch, night after night, regardless of Senatorial questions and military reverses, with "an eye to the sky and an ear to the ground."

From Time Magazine Archive

We perched on a large rock beside the pond to watch night fall, wrapped up in layers of my clothing.

From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer