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watchtower

watchtower

11 4.3
A tall building where guards look over a wide area for danger
  • noun
  • /ˈwɑːtʃˌtaʊər/
translation icon : torre de vigilancia
  • The soldiers climbed to the top of the watchtower to survey the surrounding area for any signs of danger.

Examples

  • The courtyard's central stone watchtower was built in the 1190s so the knights could protect merchants when robbers attacked.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Shouts rose up from a watchtower farther down the wall.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Maybe it's like an old watchtower from the war, looking out over the view.

  • Go to the watchtower and take our guest with you.

  • This watchtower will be completely surrounded.

  • I patrol the watchtower and have every right to know what is down there.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • The passes help establish that a nearby structure was an ancient police station and watchtower.

    Academic text (2007)
  • All it lacked was a watchtower and a few hundred yards of concertina wire.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Just outside the southern fence of Edoras, below a watchtower, will be a small cave.

    Blog text (10)
  • There's an old forest ranger's fire watchtower near the top ofthe mountain.

Synonyms

lookout
vswatchtower
24 3.4

A high place where you can see far across the land

is mainly for guarding and overseeing prisoners rather than a general spot
observation tower
vswatchtower
1 4.2

A tall building that lets you see far across the land or sea for sightseeing

is focused on guarding, spotting danger, and prisoner oversight
lookout station
vswatchtower
4.4

A building on a hill or tower where people watch for danger

is primarily used for guarding, spotting danger, and overseeing prisoners

How High

watchtower
11 4.3
lookout
24 3.4

Surface Forms

watchtower singular
watchtowers plural

Morphology

watchtower = watch + tower (transparent) = watch + tower

Clear compound of 'watch' (observe/guard) + 'tower' (tall structure); the meaning of a physical observation/guarding structure is directly derivable.

Etymology

The word watchtower comes from watch ('to look or guard') and tower ('a tall building'), so it is a high place made for watching for danger and guarding an area.