sentry

American  

[sen-tree] / ˈsɛn tri /

noun

PLURAL

sentries

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.

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sentry British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of sentry

1605–15; short for sentrinel, variant of sentinel

Example Sentences

Immune cells act like vigilant sentries, moving through tissues and detecting remaining cancer cells that could lead to relapse.

From Science Daily

Pairs of men dug foxholes nearby so one could sleep while his buddy stood sentry.

From New York Times

For the fight scene between the Guardians and OrgoCorp sentries as they attempt to leave with the pass key, practical wire work was mixed with CG action.

From Los Angeles Times

Stepping up to the copper-plated sentry box adjacent to the Dakota’s majestic archway, Kutti handed the doorman a sealed envelope addressed to “Ms. Yoko Ono,” with the word “personal” scrawled underneath.

From Salon

The blimps housed there were used as sentries during WWII, armed with machine guns, bombs and charges to fend off submarines, The Times reported.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• sentinel