night watch—
1. a watch or guard kept during the night:
- I used to watch them [sharks] during the night watch, as their fins, above water, skimmed along, leaving a trail of light behind them.
2. (also: night watchman) a man employed to guard a building, block of offices, etc. at night:
- At a corner two night watch in shoulder capes, their hands upon their staffholsters, loom tall.
watch night—
1. a service held on New Year’s eve, lasting until midnight:
- Robert Morris, banker and merchant, attends the Watch-Night and proceeds from here to contact friends.
2. the night upon which a New Year’s eve service is held:
- A Methodist, she always goes to their chapel on New Year’s eve—or the “Watch Night,” as they call it.
3. (West Africa) = night watch 2:
- 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.