Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Excubitores

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

EXCUBITO'RES. Sentries and watchmen, including those who performed military as well as civil duties (Caes. B. G. vii. 69. Columell. vii. 12.), and who kept watch by night or day (excubiae); in which respect they are distinguished from Vigiles, a name given only to night watches.

2. Under the Empire, the same term was specially applied to a body of soldiers belonging to the imperial cohort to whom the duty of guarding the emperor's palace was entrusted. Suet. Nero, 8. Compare Otho, 6.