watchman

[ woch-muh n ]
/ ˈwɒtʃ mən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR watchman ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural watch·men.

a person who keeps guard over a building at night, to protect it from fire, vandals, or thieves.
(formerly) a person who guards or patrols the streets at night.

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Origin of watchman

late Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at watch, man1

OTHER WORDS FROM watchman

watch·man·ly, adjective

Words nearby watchman

watcheye, watchful, watchless, watchlist, watchmaker, watchman, watchout, watchstrap, watchtower, watchword, watenstedt-salzgitter
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to watchman

caretaker, patrolman, warden, custodian, policeman, lookout, detective, patrol, observer, picket, ranger, sentry, watch, curator, watcher, spy, keeper, guard, scout, sentinel

Example sentences from the Web for watchman

British Dictionary definitions for watchman

watchman
/ (ˈwɒtʃmən) /

noun plural -men

a person employed to guard buildings or property
(formerly) a man employed to patrol or guard the streets at night
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