custody English · revision 6453

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1449|origins=la custos}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkʌstədiː/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English custodye, [[bor|la|custōdia|t=guarding, keeping; prison]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|custōs|t=guardian, keeper]], of uncertain origin;^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline and MWU relate it to PIE [[ine-pro|*(s)kewH-|alt=*(s)keu-|t=to cover, conceal]] and Greek keúthein, to hide.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Safekeeping, protection, guardianship: before 1449 in Barnhart, the mid-15th century in Etymonline, 1491 in the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Restraint of liberty, being held by officers of justice, is from 1590, the 1580s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The right to look after a child, as decided by a court in a divorce, is a later legal sense.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) [[custodian|alt=Custodian]] is from 1781, replacing Middle English custode,^(Barnhart 1988) and ''custodial'' from 1772.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1449 – safekeeping.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1590 – detention by the law.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1772 – custodial.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1781 – custodian.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The protective care or guardianship of someone or something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The legal right to care for a child, especially after a [[divorce]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Imprisonment or detention: ''taken into custody''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[joint custody]]

+ * [[protective custody]]

+ * [[sole custody]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[custodial]]

+ * [[custodian]]

+ * [[hide]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}