Wayghtes

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Wait \Wait\, n. [OF. waite, guaite, gaite, F. guet watch,
     watching, guard, from OHG. wahta. See {Wait}, v. i.]
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     1. The act of waiting; a delay; a halt.
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              There is a wait of three hours at the border Mexican
              town of El Paso.                      --S. B.
                                                    Griffin.
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     2. Ambush. "An enemy in wait." --Milton.
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     3. One who watches; a watchman. [Obs.]
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     4. pl. Hautboys, or oboes, played by town musicians; not used
        in the singular. [Obs.] --Halliwell.
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     5. pl. Musicians who sing or play at night or in the early
        morning, especially at Christmas time; serenaders; musical
        watchmen. [Written formerly {wayghtes}.]
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              Hark! are the waits abroad?           --Beau. & Fl.
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              The sound of the waits, rude as may be their
              minstrelsy, breaks upon the mild watches of a winter
              night with the effect of perfect harmony. --W.
                                                    Irving.
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     {To lay wait}, to prepare an ambuscade.
  
     {To lie in wait}. See under 4th {Lie}.
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