wayghtes

Wait Wait, n. [OF. waite, guaite, gaite, F. guet watch, watching, guard, from OHG. wahta. See {Wait}, v. i.] [1913 Webster] 1. The act of waiting; a delay; a halt. [1913 Webster]

There is a wait of three hours at the border Mexican town of El Paso. --S. B. Griffin. [1913 Webster]

2. Ambush. ``An enemy in wait.'' --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3. One who watches; a watchman. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

4. pl. Hautboys, or oboes, played by town musicians; not used in the singular. [Obs.] --Halliwell. [1913 Webster]

5. pl. Musicians who sing or play at night or in the early morning, especially at Christmas time; serenaders; musical watchmen. [Written formerly {wayghtes}.] [1913 Webster]

Hark! are the waits abroad? --Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster]

The sound of the waits, rude as may be their minstrelsy, breaks upon the mild watches of a winter night with the effect of perfect harmony. --W. Irving. [1913 Webster]

{To lay wait}, to prepare an ambuscade.

{To lie in wait}. See under 4th {Lie}. [1913 Webster]