watchnight

English

/ˈwɒtʃnaɪt/, /ˈwɑtʃnaɪt/

noun
Definitions
  • (Christianity) A monthly or quarterly religious service participated in by Methodists which extended past midnight.
  • (Christianity) A religious service involving a review of the past year and preparation for the year ahead participated in by Methodists and members of other Christian denominations which starts late on New Year's Eve and ends after midnight on New Year's Day; hence, the night that begins on December 31 and ends on January 1.
  • A religious or spiritual vigil.
  • (West African) A night watchman.

Etymology

Compound from English watch (sentinel, sentry, guard) + English night (noun sense, the conventional time for a person to be in bed, verb sense).

Origin

English

night

Gloss

noun sense, the conventional time for a person to be in bed, verb sense

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms