overwatch

English

Etymology

From over- +‎ watch. Back-formation from watch over.

Verb

overwatch (third-person singular simple present overwatches, present participle overwatching, simple past and past participle overwatched)

1. (transitive) To watch over.
2. (transitive) To watch excessively.
3. (transitive, obsolete) To overcome with long lack of rest.

Noun

overwatch (uncountable)

1. (military) The supervision of one unit or vehicle by another while the supervised unit is firing or moving.
   • 2007 September 11, Michael R. Gordon, “Petraeus Sees Bigger Role in Protecting Iraqi Civilians”, in New York Times‎^[1]:

     At a further and undefined point in the future, the American force would shrink to about seven and later five brigades — all involved in overwatch missions.

   • 2023 June 17, Dan Sabbagh, “‘It’s 21st-century warfare’: on Ukraine’s counteroffensive frontline”, in The Guardian‎^[2], →ISSN:

     “It’s 21st-century warfare,” says another team member, Doshch. And although some of the overwatch can be conducted remotely in bunkers, most of the drone teams (typically four-strong, they say) have to work about 1km behind the front.

Further reading

• William Safire (2007 October 14) “Overwatch”, in The New York Times‎^[3], →ISSN

Anagrams

• watch over