Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “watchman” come from?

Watchman derives from Middle English waccheman, a compound of wacche and man referring to a person who keeps watch.

watchman (English): One set to watch; a person who keeps guard,...

Definitions

  1. One set to watch; a person who keeps guard,...

Ancestry of “watchman”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishwaccheman—

Words derived from “watchman”

  • nightwatchman
  • wasman
Every word from Middle English waccheman →