sentry

[ sen-tree ]
/ ˈsɛn tri /

noun, plural sen·tries.

a soldier stationed at a place to stand guard and prevent the passage of unauthorized persons, watch for fires, etc., especially a sentinel stationed at a pass, gate, opening in a defense work, or the like.
a member of a guard or watch.

Origin of sentry

1605–15; short for sentrinel, variant of sentinel

Example sentences from the Web for sentry

British Dictionary definitions for sentry

sentry
/ (ˈsɛntrɪ) /

noun plural -tries

a soldier who guards or prevents unauthorized access to a place, keeps watch for danger, etc
the watch kept by a sentry

Word Origin for sentry

C17: perhaps shortened from obsolete centrinel, C16 variant of sentinel