watch-night

Noun

watchnight (plural watchnights)

1. A religious service involving a review of the past year and preparation for the year ahead participated in by Methodists and members of other Christian denominations which usually starts late on New Year's Eve and ends after midnight on New Year's Day; hence, the night that begins on December 31 and ends on January 1.
   • Holonym: New Year's (holiday-time sense)

   Synonyms:

   New Year's Eve

2. (historical) A monthly or quarterly religious service participated in by Methodists which extended past midnight.
   • The ſpiritual concerns, ſhall be managed by the preachers; who have ever appointed leaders, choſen ſtewards, and admitted members into, and expelled them, from the ſociety, conſulting their brethren the leaders and ſtewards, according to the rules before mentioned. The preachers alſo as hitherto...1779, John Wesley, Minutes of Several Conversations, between the Rev. John Wesley, A.M. and the Preachers in Connection with Him. Containing the Form of Discipline Established Among the Preachers and...
3. Any religious or spiritual vigil.
   • To spend a whole night, from sunset to sunrise, in vigil, is locally reckoned as two "watchnights" (in Kekchi, yo'lec). On occasion when one "watchnight" is deemed sufficient, people go home to sleep after midnight. When a series of 13 "watchnights" are required, a full night vigil will normally...1983, Belizean Studies, Belize City: Belize Institute of Social Research and Action, →OCLC, page 27
4. (Africa, West) A night watchman.
   • Next morning a flustered watchnight waited for Bill. 'What is this t'ing?' he indignantly demanded. 'In the night I sit watching, then Madam come and pour a bucket of water on me. Next a t'ief-man come. I fight him but he too strong and he take my bicycle ...[…][']1958, Isobel Ryan, Black Man's Palaver, London: Jonathan Cape, →OCLC, page 62