watchout

Deverbal from watch out.

watchout (plural watchouts)

1. A lookout; a person who stands guard watching for something.
   • 1995, Jeanne Moore, The Faces of Homelessness in London, page 218:

     Half of the beggars observed appeared to have watchouts and, similar to those on the Strand, on some pitches two watchouts operated looking out for police coming from different directions.

2. (firefighting) Any potentially hazardous condition or situation that may make a fire more dangerous.

   A change in wind direction is a watchout.

   Being uninformed on firefighting strategy and tactics is a watchout.

• outwatch