watch house

1. A house in which a watch or guard is placed. "Upon the walles every night doe watche fifteene men in watch - houses , for every watch -house five men." -Hack luut: Voyages , ii. 108. 2. A house where the night-watchmen a emble previous to the hour on which they enter on their respective beats, and where disturbers of the peace, seized by them during the night, are lodged and kept in custody till the morning, when they are brought before a magistrate; a lock-up. watch-jewel, 8. [JEWEL, 8., II.]