"watchword" meaning in English

See watchword in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: /ˈwɒt͡ʃwɜː(ɹ)d/ Audio: en-us-watchword.ogg , en-au-watchword.ogg Forms: watchwords [plural]
Etymology: From Middle English wacche word, wacchworde, morphologically as watch (“guard, sentinel, sentry”) + word. Etymology templates: {{inh|en|enm|wacche word}} Middle English wacche word, {{com|en|watch|word|t1=guard, sentinel, sentry}} watch (“guard, sentinel, sentry”) + word Head templates: {{en-noun}} watchword (plural watchwords)
  1. A word used as a motto, as expressive of a principle, belief, or rule of action; a rallying cry. Synonyms: catchword, byword, maxim, mantra, motto Translations (word used as expressive of a principle): лозунг (lozung) [masculine] (Bulgarian), motto (Finnish), tunnus (Finnish), iskulause (Finnish), mot d’ordre [masculine] (French), Motto [neuter] (German), Schlagwort [neuter] (German), Parole [feminine] (German), σύνθημα (sýnthima) [neuter] (Greek), אִמְרַת כָּנָף (imrát kanáf) [feminine] (Hebrew), hasło [neuter] (Polish), zawołanie [neuter] [heraldry, hobbies, nobility, monarchy, politics, government, lifestyle, history, human-sciences, sciences] (Polish), lema [masculine] (Spanish), consigna [feminine] (Spanish), ledord [neuter] (Swedish), lösen [common-gender] (Swedish), motto [neuter] (Swedish), slagord [neuter] (Swedish), valspråk [neuter] (Swedish), slogan [common-gender] (Swedish), stridsrop [neuter] (Swedish)
    Sense id: en-watchword-en-noun-WGJ6wtA6 Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, Entries with translation boxes, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Terms with Ancient Greek translations, Terms with Armenian translations, Terms with Bulgarian translations, Terms with Catalan translations, Terms with Finnish translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with German translations, Terms with Greek translations, Terms with Hebrew translations, Terms with Middle English translations, Terms with Polish translations, Terms with Spanish translations, Terms with Swedish translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 64 36 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 51 49 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 65 35 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 70 30 Disambiguation of Terms with Ancient Greek translations: 60 40 Disambiguation of Terms with Armenian translations: 63 37 Disambiguation of Terms with Bulgarian translations: 63 37 Disambiguation of Terms with Catalan translations: 62 38 Disambiguation of Terms with Finnish translations: 62 38 Disambiguation of Terms with French translations: 59 41 Disambiguation of Terms with German translations: 63 37 Disambiguation of Terms with Greek translations: 50 50 Disambiguation of Terms with Hebrew translations: 64 36 Disambiguation of Terms with Middle English translations: 60 40 Disambiguation of Terms with Polish translations: 62 38 Disambiguation of Terms with Spanish translations: 70 30 Disambiguation of Terms with Swedish translations: 63 37 Disambiguation of 'word used as expressive of a principle': 97 3
  2. (military, security) A prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard; a password or signal by which friends can be known from enemies. Categories (topical): Military Synonyms: passphrase, password, underword Translations (a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard): σύνθημα (súnthēma) [neuter] (Ancient Greek), նշանաբան (nšanaban) (Armenian), նշանաբառ (nšanabaṙ) (Armenian), паро́ла (paróla) [feminine] (Bulgarian), sant i senya [masculine] (Catalan), tunnussana (Finnish), mot d’ordre [masculine] (French), Losung [feminine] (German), Parole [feminine] (German), Kennwort [neuter] (German), σύνθημα (sýnthima) [neuter] (Greek), wacche word (Middle English), odzew [masculine] (Polish), contraseña [feminine] (Spanish), santo y seña (Spanish), lösenord [neuter] (Swedish), lösen [common-gender] (Swedish)
    Sense id: en-watchword-en-noun-bPqvbyP8 Categories (other): Entries with translation boxes, Terms with Greek translations Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 51 49 Disambiguation of Terms with Greek translations: 50 50 Topics: government, military, politics, war Disambiguation of 'a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard': 5 95

Inflected forms

{
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "wacche word"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English wacche word",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "watch",
        "3": "word",
        "t1": "guard, sentinel, sentry"
      },
      "expansion": "watch (“guard, sentinel, sentry”) + word",
      "name": "com"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English wacche word, wacchworde, morphologically as watch (“guard, sentinel, sentry”) + word.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "watchwords",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "watchword (plural watchwords)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "64 36",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "51 49",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "65 35",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "70 30",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "60 40",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Ancient Greek translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "63 37",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Armenian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "63 37",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "62 38",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Catalan translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "62 38",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Finnish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "59 41",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with French translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "63 37",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with German translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "50 50",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Greek translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "64 36",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Hebrew translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "60 40",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Middle English translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "62 38",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Polish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "70 30",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Spanish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "63 37",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Swedish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XXVII, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 321:",
          "text": "\"How this perpetual gaiety,\" exclaimed Louis, \"jars upon the ear! Good Heaven! is farewell to be said so gladly? I sometimes start when I think upon the hollowness of all that surrounds me. I often wish my eye had the power of searching the inmost depths of the bosoms whose watchword is my name.\"",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1871, “Forward! Be Our Watchword”, Henry Alford (lyrics), Henry Thomas Smart (music):",
          "text": "For-ward! be our watchword, Steps and voices joined; / Seek the things before us, Not a look behind.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1919, Boris Sidis, The Source and Aim of Human Progress:",
          "text": "Atrocities of the most vicious kind were justified by the watchwords: \"This is war!\" \"Might is Right.\" \"Necessity knows no law.\"",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1945 May, Harry S. Truman, Announcement of Germany's Surrender:",
          "text": "We can repay the debt which we owe to our God, to our dead, and to our children only by work — by ceaseless devotion to the responsibilities which lie ahead of us. If I could give you a single watchword for the coming months, that word is: work, work, and more work.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1994, Tori Amos (lyrics and music), “Cornflake Girl”, in Under the Pink:",
          "text": "It's a peel out the watchword / Just peel out the watchword",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2019 October, James Abbott, “Esk Valley revival”, in Modern Railways, page 76:",
          "text": "The Esk Valley route to Whitby was a classic example: a basic four trains a day service has persisted for decades, with economy the watchword.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A word used as a motto, as expressive of a principle, belief, or rule of action; a rallying cry."
      ],
      "id": "en-watchword-en-noun-WGJ6wtA6",
      "links": [
        [
          "word",
          "word"
        ],
        [
          "motto",
          "motto"
        ],
        [
          "expressive",
          "expressive"
        ],
        [
          "principle",
          "principle"
        ],
        [
          "belief",
          "belief"
        ],
        [
          "rule",
          "rule"
        ],
        [
          "rallying cry",
          "rallying cry"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "catchword"
        },
        {
          "word": "byword"
        },
        {
          "word": "maxim"
        },
        {
          "word": "mantra"
        },
        {
          "word": "motto"
        }
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "lozung",
          "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "лозунг"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
          "word": "motto"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
          "word": "tunnus"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
          "word": "iskulause"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "mot d’ordre"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "Motto"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "Schlagwort"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "Parole"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "sýnthima",
          "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "σύνθημα"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "he",
          "lang": "Hebrew",
          "roman": "imrát kanáf",
          "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "אִמְרַת כָּנָף"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "hasło"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "topics": [
            "heraldry",
            "hobbies",
            "nobility",
            "monarchy",
            "politics",
            "government",
            "lifestyle",
            "history",
            "human-sciences",
            "sciences"
          ],
          "word": "zawołanie"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "lema"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "consigna"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "ledord"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
          "tags": [
            "common-gender"
          ],
          "word": "lösen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "motto"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "slagord"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "valspråk"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
          "tags": [
            "common-gender"
          ],
          "word": "slogan"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 3",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "stridsrop"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Military",
          "orig": "en:Military",
          "parents": [
            "Society",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "51 49",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "50 50",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Greek translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1625, George Sandys, Sacrae heptades:",
          "text": "a Watchword sufficient for him that is wiſe",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard; a password or signal by which friends can be known from enemies."
      ],
      "id": "en-watchword-en-noun-bPqvbyP8",
      "links": [
        [
          "military",
          "military"
        ],
        [
          "prearranged",
          "prearranged"
        ],
        [
          "reply",
          "reply"
        ],
        [
          "challenge",
          "challenge"
        ],
        [
          "sentry",
          "sentry"
        ],
        [
          "guard",
          "guard"
        ],
        [
          "password",
          "password"
        ],
        [
          "signal",
          "signal"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "security",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(military, security) A prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard; a password or signal by which friends can be known from enemies."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "passphrase"
        },
        {
          "word": "password"
        },
        {
          "word": "underword"
        }
      ],
      "topics": [
        "government",
        "military",
        "politics",
        "war"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "5 95",
          "code": "hy",
          "lang": "Armenian",
          "roman": "nšanaban",
          "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
          "word": "նշանաբան"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 95",
          "code": "hy",
          "lang": "Armenian",
          "roman": "nšanabaṙ",
          "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
          "word": "նշանաբառ"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 95",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "paróla",
          "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "паро́ла"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 95",
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "sant i senya"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 95",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
          "word": "tunnussana"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 95",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "mot d’ordre"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 95",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "Losung"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 95",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "Parole"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 95",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "Kennwort"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 95",
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "sýnthima",
          "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "σύνθημα"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 95",
          "code": "grc",
          "lang": "Ancient Greek",
          "roman": "súnthēma",
          "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "σύνθημα"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 95",
          "code": "enm",
          "lang": "Middle English",
          "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
          "word": "wacche word"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 95",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "odzew"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 95",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "contraseña"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 95",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
          "word": "santo y seña"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 95",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "lösenord"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 95",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
          "tags": [
            "common-gender"
          ],
          "word": "lösen"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈwɒt͡ʃwɜː(ɹ)d/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-watchword.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/6/60/En-us-watchword.ogg/En-us-watchword.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/En-us-watchword.ogg"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-au-watchword.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a2/En-au-watchword.ogg/En-au-watchword.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/En-au-watchword.ogg"
    }
  ],
  "word": "watchword"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English compound terms",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms derived from Middle English",
    "English terms inherited from Middle English",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Terms with Ancient Greek translations",
    "Terms with Armenian translations",
    "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
    "Terms with Catalan translations",
    "Terms with Finnish translations",
    "Terms with French translations",
    "Terms with German translations",
    "Terms with Greek translations",
    "Terms with Hebrew translations",
    "Terms with Middle English translations",
    "Terms with Polish translations",
    "Terms with Spanish translations",
    "Terms with Swedish translations"
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "wacche word"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English wacche word",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "watch",
        "3": "word",
        "t1": "guard, sentinel, sentry"
      },
      "expansion": "watch (“guard, sentinel, sentry”) + word",
      "name": "com"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English wacche word, wacchworde, morphologically as watch (“guard, sentinel, sentry”) + word.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "watchwords",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "watchword (plural watchwords)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XXVII, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 321:",
          "text": "\"How this perpetual gaiety,\" exclaimed Louis, \"jars upon the ear! Good Heaven! is farewell to be said so gladly? I sometimes start when I think upon the hollowness of all that surrounds me. I often wish my eye had the power of searching the inmost depths of the bosoms whose watchword is my name.\"",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1871, “Forward! Be Our Watchword”, Henry Alford (lyrics), Henry Thomas Smart (music):",
          "text": "For-ward! be our watchword, Steps and voices joined; / Seek the things before us, Not a look behind.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1919, Boris Sidis, The Source and Aim of Human Progress:",
          "text": "Atrocities of the most vicious kind were justified by the watchwords: \"This is war!\" \"Might is Right.\" \"Necessity knows no law.\"",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1945 May, Harry S. Truman, Announcement of Germany's Surrender:",
          "text": "We can repay the debt which we owe to our God, to our dead, and to our children only by work — by ceaseless devotion to the responsibilities which lie ahead of us. If I could give you a single watchword for the coming months, that word is: work, work, and more work.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1994, Tori Amos (lyrics and music), “Cornflake Girl”, in Under the Pink:",
          "text": "It's a peel out the watchword / Just peel out the watchword",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2019 October, James Abbott, “Esk Valley revival”, in Modern Railways, page 76:",
          "text": "The Esk Valley route to Whitby was a classic example: a basic four trains a day service has persisted for decades, with economy the watchword.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A word used as a motto, as expressive of a principle, belief, or rule of action; a rallying cry."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "word",
          "word"
        ],
        [
          "motto",
          "motto"
        ],
        [
          "expressive",
          "expressive"
        ],
        [
          "principle",
          "principle"
        ],
        [
          "belief",
          "belief"
        ],
        [
          "rule",
          "rule"
        ],
        [
          "rallying cry",
          "rallying cry"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "catchword"
        },
        {
          "word": "byword"
        },
        {
          "word": "maxim"
        },
        {
          "word": "mantra"
        },
        {
          "word": "motto"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned",
        "en:Military"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1625, George Sandys, Sacrae heptades:",
          "text": "a Watchword sufficient for him that is wiſe",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard; a password or signal by which friends can be known from enemies."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "military",
          "military"
        ],
        [
          "prearranged",
          "prearranged"
        ],
        [
          "reply",
          "reply"
        ],
        [
          "challenge",
          "challenge"
        ],
        [
          "sentry",
          "sentry"
        ],
        [
          "guard",
          "guard"
        ],
        [
          "password",
          "password"
        ],
        [
          "signal",
          "signal"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "security",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(military, security) A prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard; a password or signal by which friends can be known from enemies."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "passphrase"
        },
        {
          "word": "password"
        },
        {
          "word": "underword"
        }
      ],
      "topics": [
        "government",
        "military",
        "politics",
        "war"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈwɒt͡ʃwɜː(ɹ)d/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-watchword.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/6/60/En-us-watchword.ogg/En-us-watchword.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/En-us-watchword.ogg"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-au-watchword.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a2/En-au-watchword.ogg/En-au-watchword.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/En-au-watchword.ogg"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "lozung",
      "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "лозунг"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
      "word": "motto"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
      "word": "tunnus"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
      "word": "iskulause"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "mot d’ordre"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "Motto"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "Schlagwort"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "Parole"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "sýnthima",
      "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "σύνθημα"
    },
    {
      "code": "he",
      "lang": "Hebrew",
      "roman": "imrát kanáf",
      "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "אִמְרַת כָּנָף"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "hasło"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "heraldry",
        "hobbies",
        "nobility",
        "monarchy",
        "politics",
        "government",
        "lifestyle",
        "history",
        "human-sciences",
        "sciences"
      ],
      "word": "zawołanie"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "lema"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "consigna"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "ledord"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
      "tags": [
        "common-gender"
      ],
      "word": "lösen"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "motto"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "slagord"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "valspråk"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
      "tags": [
        "common-gender"
      ],
      "word": "slogan"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "word used as expressive of a principle",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "stridsrop"
    },
    {
      "code": "hy",
      "lang": "Armenian",
      "roman": "nšanaban",
      "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
      "word": "նշանաբան"
    },
    {
      "code": "hy",
      "lang": "Armenian",
      "roman": "nšanabaṙ",
      "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
      "word": "նշանաբառ"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "paróla",
      "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "паро́ла"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "sant i senya"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
      "word": "tunnussana"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "mot d’ordre"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "Losung"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "Parole"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "Kennwort"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "sýnthima",
      "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "σύνθημα"
    },
    {
      "code": "grc",
      "lang": "Ancient Greek",
      "roman": "súnthēma",
      "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "σύνθημα"
    },
    {
      "code": "enm",
      "lang": "Middle English",
      "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
      "word": "wacche word"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "odzew"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "contraseña"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
      "word": "santo y seña"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "lösenord"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "a prearranged reply to the challenge of a sentry or a guard",
      "tags": [
        "common-gender"
      ],
      "word": "lösen"
    }
  ],
  "word": "watchword"
}

Download raw JSONL data for watchword meaning in English (10.4kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-11-06 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-10-02 using wiktextract (fbeafe8 and 7f03c9b). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.