night-watchern.
/ˈnʌɪtˌwɒtʃə/, U.S. /ˈnaɪtˌwɑtʃər/ A person who keeps watch at night.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > one who sees > [noun] > watcher or look-out
showerOE
tootera1382
waiter1382
night watcha1400
scout-watcha1400
looker-out1562
night-watcher1569
watcher1572
scout1585
bishop1592
speculator1607
lookout1662
speculatory1775
lookout man1787
stagger1859
dog1870
eye1874
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > watching or keeping guard > [noun] > one who watches or keeps guard > one who watches or guards at night
night watcha1400
night-watcher1569
Jack-o'-lantern1663
nightwatchman1767
vigilante1899
hack1914
watch-night1953
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 499 To auoyde all night watchers adioyning to Paris.
1641 E. Douglas Lady Eleanor her Appeale 19 Even the not knowne day and houre, shewed about New-yeares-day, when that good time falling, or twelfe-tyde, there then to watch, as those night-watchers, the happie Shepheard, our example.
1844 Jrnl. Statist. Soc. 7 325 For the prevention of disturbances endangering the public weal, there are 48 gens-d'armes..; also 64 night watchers.
1848 Amer. Rev. Aug. 211/2 A perfection of brilliancy unknown to the night-watchers in the humid regions of the Atlantic.
1859 G. Meredith Ordeal Richard Feverel III. ix. 293 He dismissed the night-watchers from the room.
1904 H. James Golden Bowl v. 299 The predicament of the night-watcher in a beast-haunted land.
1956 D. Gascoyne Night Thoughts 13 (title of poem) The nightwatchers.
1997 T. Hughes Tales from Ovid 248 Her veil hid all but her eyes from night watchers.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1569