What is the Latin word for watchman?

The usual Latin words for “watchman” are custōs, būcinātor. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“watchman” in Latin

custōsa guard, protector, watchman; a guardian, tutor; a jailer būcinātortrumpeter; one who trumpets forth or blazes abroad

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

watchman

custos: vigil nocturnus (by night): buccinator, qui horas nocturnas dividit (after Frontinus, Strat., 1, 9, 17, buccinator qui vigilias nocturnas dividit). Watchmen, vigiles nocturni. To appoint a watchman, custodem imponere alicui rei or (more rarely) in aliqua re (e.g., custodem imponere in hortis fructus servandi gratia). Vid: also, WATCH, s.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for watchman?: The usual Latin words for “watchman” are custōs, būcinātor. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.