French Conversation · Level 162
30 words
French word
vigie
Pronunciation
IPA/viʒi/
Meaning
- feminine nounlookout post
Example
Il est monté à la vigie.
He climbed up to the lookout post.
More examples
On a installé une vigie sur la falaise.
They installed a watch post on the cliff.
Core concept
A lookout standing high above the surroundings, or the elevated station from which the lookout watches and signals danger.
Similar words
surveillance: The sustained monitoring of people, places, or situations.
guet: An assigned watch shift or the time spent on watch.
gardien: A guard who remains on site to protect a building or place.
poste: A place or position established for performing an assignment or service.
Definition in French
Personne postée en hauteur chargée de surveiller l'horizon et de donner l'alerte, surtout à bord d'un bateau ; par extension, le poste d'observation lui-même.
Word origin
French vigie was borrowed through Italian veglia, meaning a watch, from Latin vigilia, meaning wakefulness or a watch.
Usage tips
- Vigie is feminine, so the usual form is la vigie, even when it refers to a male lookout.
Other meanings
- lookoutnoun
- watchmannoun