guard English · revision 3667

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1426|origins=frk *wardōn}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ɡɑːd/, US /ɡɑːrd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|garde]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|frm|garde|t=guardian, keeper; custody]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|fro|garder|t=to keep, protect]] or guarder,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[frk|*wardōn]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[gem-pro|*wardōną|t=to guard]],^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*wer-|t=to perceive, watch out for]].^(Etymonline) The Franks brought the word into Romance, where the w- became g(u)-;^(Cresswell 2021) Italian guardare and Spanish guardar also come from it.^(Etymonline) It is a doublet of [[ward]], and related to [[warden]], [[guardian]] and [[wardrobe]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Keeping, custody: 1426 in the OED,^(OED 1989) about 1400 in Barnhart, as care or protection, with an earlier surname Legard (1275).^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline dates it to the early 15th century, also as one who keeps watch and a body of soldiers.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A protector or defender is from the 15th century, and a body of defenders and “protection, defence” from the 16th.^(Hoad 1986) The verb, to protect, is from 1448 in Barnhart^(Barnhart 1988) or about 1500 in Merriam-Webster.^(MWU 2024) A posture of defence in fencing and boxing is from the 1590s,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) hence ''on guard'' (1640s) and ''off one's guard'' (1680s);^(Etymonline) the OED dates ''on one's guard'' to 1577 and ''off one's guard'' to 1682.^(OED 1989) A guard as a welt or border of a garment, and the verb “to trim with braid or lace”, from 1500, appear in Holland's and North's Plutarch,^(Trench 1859)^(OED 1989) and Trench took them as a special use of the same word.^(Trench 1859) A guard in cricket is from 1843,^(OED 1989) and in American football from 1889.^(Etymonline) The guard-rail is from 1860, first on railway tracks.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1426 – custody.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1448 – verb, to protect.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1500 – to trim a garment.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1577 – ''on one's guard''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1590s – a defensive posture.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1682 – ''off one's guard''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1843 – in cricket.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1860 – ''guard-rail''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1889 – in football.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person or group that protects or watches over; a [[sentry]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A body of soldiers, as one attending a [[sovereign]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Protection; a state of watchfulness: ''on guard''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A device that prevents injury or damage.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A defensive posture in [[fencing]] or [[boxing]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A player in certain positions in [[basketball]] or [[American football]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(British)'' The official in charge of a train.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To protect from harm by watching over.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To watch over so as to prevent escape.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To keep an opponent from scoring.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To take precautions: ''to guard against error''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[guarder]]

+ * [[guardable]]

+ * [[guardless]]

+ * [[guardlike]]

+ * [[unguard]]

+ * [[guardee]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ward]]

+ * [[warden]]

+ * [[guardian]]

+ * [[wardrobe]]

+ * [[regard]]

+ * [[guarantee]]

+ * [[beware]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}