night watches
Guarding after dark
Night watches are the hours of darkness divided into periods for keeping guard or vigil.
The term comes from ancient military and nautical practice, where the night was split into watches—typically three or four—during which sentries remained alert while others slept.
In religious contexts, night watches are times of prayer or meditation during nocturnal hours: She kept the night watches in prayer.
The phrase carries a sense of vigilance during vulnerable hours when most sleep.
- sentryGuard on duty
- lookoutWatcher or vista point
- patrolRegular surveillance route
- guardWatchful defensive attention
- changing of the guardCeremonial sentry replacement ritual
standing guard · vigil · midwatch · surveillance · candle · oil lamp · silence · darkness · lanterns · duty · hourglass · sentinels · hush · bell · town criers · anticipation · torch · cockcrow