The Collaborative International Dictionary
Wait \Wait\, n. [OF. waite, guaite, gaite, F. guet watch, watching, guard, from OHG. wahta. See Wait, v. i.]
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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. Ambush. ``An enemy in wait.''
--Milton.One who watches; a watchman. [Obs.]
pl. Hautboys, or oboes, played by town musicians; not used in the singular. [Obs.]
--Halliwell.-
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.