One set to watch; a person who keeps guard, especially one who guards a building, or the streets of a city, by night.

A surname.

plural of Watchman

(historical) Prior to police forces, a person appointed by a town or city to walk the streets at night and guard the burghers from felons and robbers.

Alternative spelling of night watchman

A watchman's detector in which the apparatus for recording the times of visiting several stations is contained within a single clock.

An instrument, with a vibrating tongue fixed in a frame, which slips over the teeth of a ratchet wheel and produces a loud raucous sound when whirled around, once used by watchmen to warn of danger

(historical) An apparatus for recording the time when a watchman visits a station on his rounds.

plural of watchman's rattle

(political philosophy) A government with the least necessary power over its citizens.