Wait \Wait\, n. [OF. waite, guaite, gaite, F. guet watch, watching, guard, from OHG. wahta. See Wait, v. i.]

1. The act of waiting; a delay; a halt.

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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)