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2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]


  Wait \Wait\, n. [OF. waite, guaite, gaite, F. guet watch,
     watching, guard, from OHG. wahta. See Wait, v. i.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. The act of waiting; a delay; a halt.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              There is a wait of three hours at the border Mexican
              town of El Paso.                      --S. B.
                                                    Griffin.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Ambush. ``An enemy in wait.'' --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. One who watches; a watchman. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. pl. Hautboys, or oboes, played by town musicians; not used
        in the singular. [Obs.] --Halliwell.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. pl. Musicians who sing or play at night or in the early
        morning, especially at Christmas time; serenaders; musical
        watchmen. [Written formerly wayghtes.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Hark! are the waits abroad?           --Beau. & Fl.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     To lay wait, to prepare an ambuscade.
  
     To lie in wait. See under 4th Lie.
        [1913 Webster]

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) : [ web1913 ]


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

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