The duty, post or office of watchman or sentinel. to stand watch, to stand aor one's watch: to keep watch, perform the duty of a watch. Now chiefly…

intransitive. To act as sentinel, stand sentinel, keep guard. literal and figurative. Obsolete. rare.

to lie (also stand, stay,etc.) perdu. Military. To be placed as an outpost, guard, scout, etc., in an exposed or hazardous position. Also: to be…

Military. transitive. To place or post (a guard, watch, etc.) for the purpose of defence or observation. Also in extended use.

The condition or fact of guarding, protecting, or standing on the defensive; watch; esp. in to keep guard. Hence: the special service of watching…

intransitive. To perform the office of a sentry.

colloquial (originally U.S.). to watch a person's back: to protect or guard a person against potential attack (sometimes literally from behind)…