打更

dǎgēng
to sound the night watches (on clappers or gongs, in former times)

CEDICT

  1. (historical) to sound the night watches
  2. to sound the night watches

Wiktionary

旧时把一夜分做五更，每到一更，巡夜者敲锣击梆以报时，称为「打更」。

重編國語辭典

Entry Composition

1 打 dǎ
  1. a semantically light, transitive verb that is combined with various grammatical objects to form compound verbs and verb-object phrases with a diverse range of meanings (e.g. 打伞 dǎsǎn "to hold an umbrella", 打电话 dǎdiànhuà "to make a phone call", 打针 dǎzhēn "to get an injection", 打手套 dǎshǒutào "to knit gloves", 打气 dǎqì "to inflate")
  2. to hit; to strike
  3. to fight
  4. (coll.) from; since (as in 打那以后 dǎnàyǐhòu "since then")
2 更 gēng
  1. to change or replace
  2. to experience
  3. one of the five two-hour periods into which the night was formerly divided
  4. watch (e.g. of a sentry or guard)