sentry

[ sen-tree ]

noun

, plural sen·tries.

1. 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.
2. a member of a guard or watch.

sentry

/ ˈsɛntrɪ /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sentry¹

1605–15; short for sentrinel, variant of sentinel

Word History and Origins

Origin of sentry¹

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

Example Sentences

"We were at a mini golf place in Cincinnati, Ohio. I grab my kids up, throw them in the car, go home and load all my guns. And basically stand like a sentry in our front door, and that was my reaction to it."

From Salon

Two others were removed by London authorities - a silhouette of a cat on a billboard in Cricklewood was taken down for safety reasons; and piranhas painted on a City of London Police sentry box was moved so it could be viewed safely.

From BBC

I called New York state Sen. Julia Salazar’s office from the prison yard, as my friend Jonathan Parker stood sentry behind me so nobody tapped me on the shoulder to ask me who would get the phone next.

From Slate

A source with the investigative news organisation The Sentry told the BBC that the process appeared to be "opaque", and lacked clear rules.

From BBC

The source at The Sentry, who preferred to remain anonymous because of the sensitivities around the issue, pointed out that the governor of Libya's central bank had fled the country after a fall-out with the government there.

From BBC

Related Words

• sentinel