There is a wait of three hours at the border Mexican
town of El Paso. --S. B.
Griffin.
2. Ambush. ``An enemy in wait.'' --Milton.
3. One who watches; a watchman. [Obs.]
4. pl. Hautboys, or oboes, played by town musicians; not used
in the singular. [Obs.] --Halliwell.
5. pl. Musicians who sing or play at night or in the early
morning, especially at Christmas time; serenaders; musical
watchmen. [Written formerly {wayghtes}.]
Hark! are the waits abroad? --Beau & Fl.
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.
{To lay wait}, to prepare an ambuscade.
{To lie in wait}. See under 4th {Lie}.