night watchman

Meanings

1. Prior to police forces, a person appointed by a town or city to walk the streets at night and guard the burghers from felons and robbers.
2. A person who guards (usually at a building) at night.
3. A lower order batter to play the last overs in low light to save better batters for the next day's play.

Etymology

From night + watchman. Cf. Old English nihtweard. By surface analysis, night + watch + man.