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watch-night
watch-night n. 
/ˈwɔtʃˌnaɪt/,
Brit. /ˈwɒtʃnʌɪt/
, /ˈwɒtʃnʌɪt/U.S. /ˈwɑtʃˌnaɪt/
, /ˈwɑtʃˌnaɪt//ˈwɔtʃˌnaɪt/West African English /ˈwɔtʃˌnait/
(a) originally a religious service extending over midnight held monthly by Wesleyan Methodists; in later use a service held (by Methodists and others) on New Year's eve, lasting until midnight; also, the night upon which the service is held; (b) West African a night-watchman./ˈwɔtʃˌnait/ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > observance, ritual > kinds of rite > watch-night > [noun]
watch971
watch-night1742
society > faith > worship > sacrament > (extreme) unction > vigil > [noun] > Wesleyan
watch-night1742
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
1742 J. Wesley Jrnl. 9 Apr. We had the first watch-night in London. We commonly choose for this Solemn Service the Friday night nearest the full moon.
1835 Court Mag. 6 70/2 A methodist, she always goes to their chapel on New Year's-eve—or the ‘Watch Night’, as they call it.
1883 Pall Mall Gaz. 10 July 10/1 A man..was charged with..annoying the Salvation Army at a ‘watch-night’ service.
1953 G. Durrell Overloaded Ark vi. 113 I engaged what in the Cameroons is known as Watchnight... There were two reasons for engaging a night watchman: the first..to wake me up. The second..was that he patrolled the edge of the compound..for driver ant columns.
1975 J. Wyllie Butterfly Flood (1977) xxxi. 148 The watch night. Where is the watch night?.. The nightwatchman was lying in his reclining chair.
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