watchdog

Meanings

Noun

• a guard dog
• An individual or group that monitors the activities of another entity (such as an individual, corporation, non-profit group, or governmental organization) on behalf of the public to ensure that entity does not behave illegally or unethically.

Verb

• To perform a function analogous to that of a watchdog; to guard and warn.
• To be continuously reset by a watchdog timer.

Origin

• watch + dog