watch night

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noun

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

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of watch night

First recorded in 1735–45

Words nearby watch night

watch list, watchmaker, watchman, watch meeting, watch my dust, watch night, watch one's step, watchout, watch over, watch pocket, watchstrap

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use watch night in a sentence

The Saints, I suppose, had watch-night services of their own, for they were conspicuous by their absence.
Eugene Field, A Study In Heredity And Contradictions|Slason Thompson
Certainly, firing crackers seems to be a large part of the watch-night service.
Intimate China|Mrs. Archibald Little
Watch-night on New Year's Eve was a season of great rejoicing among them.
The Story of My Life|Egerton Ryerson
The thought of it troubled me, not much, but still a little, during the watch-night services at Siloam church.
Modern Skepticism: A Journey Through the Land of Doubt and Back Again|Joseph Barker

Then he remembered the watch-night service Bethany had asked him to attend.
In League with Israel|Annie F. Johnston

British Dictionary definitions for watch night

watch night

noun (in Protestant churches)

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

the service held on either of these nights

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