The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Watch \Watch\ (w[o^]ch), n. [OE. wacche, AS. w[ae]cce, fr.
   wacian to wake; akin to D. wacht, waak, G. wacht, wache.
   [root]134. See Wake, v. i. ]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. The act of watching; forbearance of sleep; vigil; wakeful,
      vigilant, or constantly observant attention; close
      observation; guard; preservative or preventive vigilance;
      formerly, a watching or guarding by night.
      [1913 Webster]

            Shepherds keeping watch by night.     --Milton.
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            All the long night their mournful watch they keep.
                                                  --Addison.
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   Note: Watch was formerly distinguished from ward, the former
         signifying a watching or guarding by night, and the
         latter a watching, guarding, or protecting by day
         Hence, they were not unfrequently used together,
         especially in the phrase to keep watch and ward, to
         denote continuous and uninterrupted vigilance or
         protection, or both watching and guarding. This
         distinction is now rarely recognized, watch being used
         to signify a watching or guarding both by night and by
         day, and ward, which is now rarely used, having simply
         the meaning of guard, or protection, without reference
         to time.
         [1913 Webster]

               Still, when she slept, he kept both watch and
               ward.                              --Spenser.
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               Ward, guard, or custodia, is chiefly applied to
               the daytime, in order to apprehend rioters, and
               robbers on the highway . . . Watch, is properly
               applicable to the night only, . . . and it begins
               when ward ends, and ends when that begins.
                                                  --Blackstone.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. One who watches, or those who watch; a watchman, or a body
      of watchmen; a sentry; a guard.
      [1913 Webster]

            Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch; go your way,
            make it as sure as ye can.            --Matt. xxvii.
                                                  65.
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   3. The post or office of a watchman; also, the place where a
      watchman is posted, or where a guard is kept.
      [1913 Webster]

            He upbraids Iago, that he made him
            Brave me upon the watch.              --Shak.
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   4. The period of the night during which a person does duty as
      a sentinel, or guard; the time from the placing of a
      sentinel till his relief; hence, a division of the night.
      [1913 Webster]

            I did stand my watch upon the hill.   --Shak.
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            Might we but hear . . .
            Or whistle from the lodge, or village cock
            Count the night watches to his feathery dames.
                                                  --Milton.
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   5. A small timepiece, or chronometer, to be carried about the
      person, the machinery of which is moved by a spring.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: Watches are often distinguished by the kind of
         escapement used, as an anchor watch, a lever watch,
         a chronometer watch, etc. (see the Note under
         Escapement, n., 3); also, by the kind of case, as a
         gold or silver watch, an open-faced watch, a
         hunting watch, or hunter, etc.
         [1913 Webster]

   6. (Naut.)
      (a) An allotted portion of time, usually four hour for
          standing watch, or being on deck ready for duty. Cf.
          Dogwatch.
      (b) That part, usually one half, of the officers and crew,
          who together attend to the working of a vessel for an
          allotted time, usually four hours. The watches are
          designated as the port watch, and the starboard
          watch.
          [1913 Webster]

   Anchor watch (Naut.), a detail of one or more men who keep
      watch on deck when a vessel is at anchor.

   To be on the watch, to be looking steadily for some event.


   Watch and ward (Law), the charge or care of certain
      officers to keep a watch by night and a guard by day in
      towns, cities, and other districts, for the preservation
      of the public peace. --Wharton. --Burrill.

   Watch and watch (Naut.), the regular alternation in being
      on watch and off watch of the two watches into which a
      ship's crew is commonly divided.

   Watch barrel, the brass box in a watch, containing the
      mainspring.

   Watch bell (Naut.), a bell struck when the half-hour glass
      is run out, or at the end of each half hour. --Craig.

   Watch bill (Naut.), a list of the officers and crew of a
      ship as divided into watches, with their stations.
      --Totten.

   Watch case, the case, or outside covering, of a watch;
      also, a case for holding a watch, or in which it is kept.


   Watch chain. Same as watch guard, below.

   Watch clock, a watchman's clock; see under Watchman.

   Watch fire, a fire lighted at night, as a signal, or for
      the use of a watch or guard.

   Watch glass.
      (a) A concavo-convex glass for covering the face, or dial,
          of a watch; -- also called watch crystal.
      (b) (Naut.) A half-hour glass used to measure the time of
          a watch on deck.

   Watch guard, a chain or cord by which a watch is attached
      to the person.

   Watch gun (Naut.), a gun sometimes fired on shipboard at 8
      p. m., when the night watch begins.

   Watch light, a low-burning lamp used by watchers at night;
      formerly, a candle having a rush wick.

   Watch night, The last night of the year; -- so called by
      the Methodists, Moravians, and others, who observe it by
      holding religious meetings lasting until after midnight.


   Watch paper, an old-fashioned ornament for the inside of a
      watch case, made of paper cut in some fanciful design, as
      a vase with flowers, etc.

   Watch tackle (Naut.), a small, handy purchase, consisting
      of a tailed double block, and a single block with a hook.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Watch \Watch\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Watched; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Watching.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. To give heed to; to observe the actions or motions of, for
      any purpose; to keep in view; not to lose from sight and
      observation; as, to watch the progress of a bill in the
      legislature.
      [1913 Webster]

            Saul also sent messengers unto David's house to
            watch him, and to slay him.           --1 Sam. xix.
                                                  11
      [1913 Webster]

            I must cool a little, and watch my opportunity.
                                                  --Landor.
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            In lazy mood I watched the little circles die.
                                                  --Longfellow.
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   2. To tend; to guard; to have in keeping.
      [1913 Webster]

            And flaming ministers, to watch and tend
            Their earthy charge.                  --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

            Paris watched the flocks in the groves of Ida.
                                                  --Broome.
      [1913 Webster]
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Watch \Watch\, v. i. [Cf. AS. w[oe]ccan, wacian. [root]134. See
   Watch, n., Wake, v. i. ]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. To be awake; to be or continue without sleep; to wake; to
      keep vigil.
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            I have two nights watched with you.   --Shak.
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            Couldest thou not watch one hour ?    --Mark xiv.
                                                  37.
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   2. To be attentive or vigilant; to give heed; to be on the
      lookout; to keep guard; to act as sentinel.
      [1913 Webster]

            Take ye heed, watch and pray.         --Mark xiii.
                                                  33.
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            The Son gave signal high
            To the bright minister that watched.  --Milton.
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   3. To be expectant; to look with expectation; to wait; to
      seek opportunity.
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            My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that
            watch for the morning.                --Ps. cxxx. 6.
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   4. To remain awake with any one as nurse or attendant; to
      attend on the sick during the night; as, to watch with a
      man in a fever.
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   5. (Naut.) To serve the purpose of a watchman by floating
      properly in its place; -- said of a buoy.
      [1913 Webster]

   To watch over, to be cautiously observant of; to inspect,
      superintend, and guard.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Alarm \A*larm"\ ([.a]*l[aum]rm"), n. [F. alarme, It. all' arme
   to arms ! fr. L. arma, pl., arms. See Arms, and cf.
   Alarum.]
   1. A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy.
      [1913 Webster]

            Arming to answer in a night alarm.    --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Any sound or information intended to give notice of
      approaching danger; a warning sound to arouse attention; a
      warning of danger.
      [1913 Webster]

            Sound an alarm in my holy mountain.   --Joel ii. 1.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. A sudden attack; disturbance; broil. [R.] "These home
      alarms." --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            Thy palace fill with insults and alarms. --Pope.
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   4. Sudden surprise with fear or terror excited by
      apprehension of danger; in the military use, commonly,
      sudden apprehension of being attacked by surprise.
      [1913 Webster]

            Alarm and resentment spread throughout the camp.
                                                  --Macaulay.
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   5. A mechanical contrivance for awaking persons from sleep,
      or rousing their attention; an alarum.
      [1913 Webster]

   Alarm bell, a bell that gives notice on danger.

   Alarm clock or watch, a clock or watch which can be so
      set as to ring or strike loudly at a prearranged hour, to
      wake from sleep, or excite attention.

   Alarm gauge, a contrivance attached to a steam boiler for
      showing when the pressure of steam is too high, or the
      water in the boiler too low.

   Alarm post, a place to which troops are to repair in case
      of an alarm.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: Fright; affright; terror; trepidation; apprehension;
        consternation; dismay; agitation; disquiet; disquietude.

   Usage: Alarm, Fright, Terror, Consternation. These
          words express different degrees of fear at the
          approach of danger. Fright is fear suddenly excited,
          producing confusion of the senses, and hence it is
          unreflecting. Alarm is the hurried agitation of
          feeling which springs from a sense of immediate and
          extreme exposure. Terror is agitating and excessive
          fear, which usually benumbs the faculties.
          Consternation is overwhelming fear, and carries a
          notion of powerlessness and amazement. Alarm agitates
          the feelings; terror disorders the understanding and
          affects the will; fright seizes on and confuses the
          sense; consternation takes possession of the soul, and
          subdues its faculties. See Apprehension.
          [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

watch
    n 1: a small portable timepiece [syn: watch, ticker]
    2: a period of time (4 or 2 hours) during which some of a ship's
       crew are on duty
    3: a purposeful surveillance to guard or observe [syn: watch,
       vigil]
    4: the period during which someone (especially a guard) is on
       duty
    5: a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
       [syn: lookout, lookout man, sentinel, sentry,
       watch, spotter, scout, picket]
    6: the rite of staying awake for devotional purposes (especially
       on the eve of a religious festival) [syn: vigil, watch]
    v 1: look attentively; "watch a basketball game"
    2: follow with the eyes or the mind; "Keep an eye on the baby,
       please!"; "The world is watching Sarajevo"; "She followed the
       men with the binoculars" [syn: watch, observe, follow,
       watch over, keep an eye on]
    3: see or watch; "view a show on television"; "This program will
       be seen all over the world"; "view an exhibition"; "Catch a
       show on Broadway"; "see a movie" [syn: watch, view,
       see, catch, take in]
    4: observe with attention; "They watched as the murderer was
       executed" [syn: watch, look on]
    5: be vigilant, be on the lookout or be careful; "Watch out for
       pickpockets!" [syn: watch, look out, watch out]
    6: observe or determine by looking; "Watch how the dog chases
       the cats away"
    7: find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by
       making an inquiry or other effort; "I want to see whether she
       speaks French"; "See whether it works"; "find out if he
       speaks Russian"; "Check whether the train leaves on time"
       [syn: determine, check, find out, see, ascertain,
       watch, learn]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

303 Moby Thesaurus words for "watch":
   Argus, Big Ben, Charley, abide, airplane spotter, alarm clock,
   alarm watch, anchor watch, and listen, animadvert, appear,
   assister, astronomical clock, atomic clock, attend, attend to,
   await, baby-sit, bakehead, be at, be present at, be vigilant,
   be watchful, bevy, bide, bit, black gang, boilerman,
   box chronometer, bug, bungs, cabin boy, calculate on,
   calendar clock, calendar watch, care for, case, catch, chaperon,
   charm, cherish, chips, chronograph, chronometer, chronopher,
   chronoscope, clepsydra, clock, clock movement, clocks, clockworks,
   cloud, come to, commissary steward, complement, conserve, count on,
   covey, cuckoo clock, custodianship, custody, day shift, deckhand,
   deckie, dekko, dial, digital clock, digital watch, do, dogwatch,
   eagle eye, electric clock, electronic clock, espial, espionage,
   examine, eye, eyeball, fire patrolman, fire warden, fireguard,
   fireman, flight, flock, follow, forestall, forward observer,
   foster, full time, gaggle, gape, gaze at, gnomon, go to,
   grandfather clock, graveyard shift, guard, guardedness,
   guardianship, gun loader, gunner, half time, half-hour glass,
   half-minute glass, hand, have a looksee, heed, hive, hold in view,
   horologe, horologium, hospital steward, hourglass, hunter,
   independent-seconds watch, inspect, invigilation, isochronon,
   journeyman, keep alert, keep guard, keep in sight, keep in view,
   keep under observation, keep vigil, keep watch, keep watch over,
   landing signalman, lobster trick, look, look about one, look after,
   look at, look for, look forward to, look lively, look on, look out,
   look out for, look sharp, look to, look upon, looking, lookout,
   lookout man, mail orderly, make a reconnaissance,
   marine chronometer, mark, mark time, matronize, metronome, mind,
   minister to, monitoring, mother, mount guard, murmuration,
   navigator, never nod, night shift, night watchman, note, notice,
   nurse, nurture, observance, observation, observe, ogle, oiler,
   overtime, part time, patrol, patroller, patrolman, peeled eye,
   peep, picket, plague, play the spy, police, preserve, proctoring,
   protege, provide for, prudence, purser, put under surveillance,
   qui vive, radio operator, reckon on, reconnoiter, regard, relay,
   remark, repeater, respect, ride herd on, roundsman, roustabout,
   sandglass, scan, scout, scout out, scrutinize, scrutiny, see,
   see after, see to, sentinel, sentry, sharp eye, shepherd, shift,
   show up, sit in, sit up for, skein, snip, snips, sparks,
   split schedule, split shift, spotter, spring, spy, spy out,
   spy upon, spying, stake out, stand guard, stand sentinel,
   stay up for, steward, stewardess, stewardship, stint, stoker, stop,
   sundial, sunrise watch, support, surveillance, swarm, sweat,
   sweat it out, sweat out, swing shift, tab, take care of,
   take charge of, take in, take note, take notice, telltale, tend,
   ticker, time, time switch, timekeeper, timepiece, timepieces,
   timer, torpedoman, tour, tour of duty, tout, trick, turn,
   turn of work, turn up, turnip, vedette, view, viewing, vigil,
   vigilance, visit, wait, wait for, wait on, wait up for, ward,
   wariness, watch and wait, watch and ward, watch out, watch out for,
   watch over, watcher, watchful eye, watchfulness, watching,
   watchkeeper, watchman, watchworks, weather eye, witness,
   witnessing, work shift, wristwatch, yeoman



Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

WATCH, police. To watch is, properly speaking, to stand sentry and attend
guard during the night time: certain officers called watchmen are appointed
in most of the United States, whose duty it is to arrest all persons who are
violating the law, or breaking the peace. (q.v.) Vide 1 Bl. Com. 356; 1
Chit. Cr. Law, 14, 20.