v. i. To watch by way of caution or defense; to be cautious; to be in a state or position of defense or safety; as, careful persons guard against mistakes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. guarde, F. garde; of German origin; cf. OHG. wart, warto, one who watches, warta a watching, Goth. wardja watchman. See Guard, v. t. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. One who, or that which, guards from injury, danger, exposure, or attack; defense; protection. [ 1913 Webster ]

His greatness was no guard to bar heaven's shaft. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A man, or body of men, stationed to protect or control a person or position; a watch; a sentinel. [ 1913 Webster ]

The guard which kept the door of the king's house. Kings xiv. 27. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One who has charge of a mail coach or a railway train; a conductor. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Any fixture or attachment designed to protect or secure against injury, soiling, or defacement, theft or loss; as: (a) That part of a sword hilt which protects the hand. (b) Ornamental lace or hem protecting the edge of a garment. (c) A chain or cord for fastening a watch to one's person or dress. (d) A fence or rail to prevent falling from the deck of a vessel. (e) An extension of the deck of a vessel beyond the hull; esp., in side-wheel steam vessels, the framework of strong timbers, which curves out on each side beyond the paddle wheel, and protects it and the shaft against collision. (f) A plate of metal, beneath the stock, or the lock frame, of a gun or pistol, having a loop, called a bow, to protect the trigger. (g) (Bookbinding) An interleaved strip at the back, as in a scrap book, to guard against its breaking when filled. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A posture of defense in fencing, and in bayonet and saber exercise. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. An expression or admission intended to secure against objections or censure. [ 1913 Webster ]

They have expressed themselves with as few guards and restrictions as I. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Watch; heed; care; attention; as, to keep guard. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Zool.) The fibrous sheath which covers the phragmacone of the Belemnites. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Guard is often used adjectively or in combination; as, guard boat or guardboat; guardroom or guard room; guard duty. [ 1913 Webster ]

Advanced guard,
Coast guard, etc. See under Advanced, Coast, etc. --
Grand guard (Mil.), one of the posts of the second line belonging to a system of advance posts of an army. Mahan. --
Guard boat. (a) A boat appointed to row the rounds among ships of war in a harbor, to see that their officers keep a good lookout. (b) A boat used by harbor authorities to enforce the observance of quarantine regulations. --
Guard cells (Bot.), the bordering cells of stomates; they are crescent-shaped and contain chlorophyll. --
Guard chamber, a guardroom. --
Guard detail (Mil.), men from a company regiment etc., detailed for guard duty. --
Guard duty (Mil.), the duty of watching patrolling, etc., performed by a sentinel or sentinels. --
Guard lock (Engin.), a tide lock at the mouth of a dock or basin. --
Guard of honor (Mil.), a guard appointed to receive or to accompany eminent persons. --
Guard rail (Railroads), a rail placed on the inside of a main rail, on bridges, at switches, etc., as a safeguard against derailment. --
Guard ship, a war vessel appointed to superintend the marine affairs in a harbor, and also, in the English service, to receive seamen till they can be distributed among their respective ships. --
Life guard (Mil.), a body of select troops attending the person of a prince or high officer. --
Off one's guard, in a careless state; inattentive; unsuspicious of danger. --
On guard, serving in the capacity of a guard; doing duty as a guard or sentinel; watching. --
On one's guard, in a watchful state; alert; vigilant. --
To mount guard (Mil.), to go on duty as a guard or sentinel. --
To run the guard, to pass the watch or sentinel without leave.

Syn. -- Defense; shield; protection; safeguard; convoy; escort; care; attention; watch; heed. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Guarded; p. pr. & vb. n. Gurding. ] [ OF. guarder, garder, warder, F. garder, fr. OHG. wart&unr_;n to be on the watch, await, G. marten. See Ward, v. & n., and cf. Guard, n. ] 1. To protect from danger; to secure against surprise, attack, or injury; to keep in safety; to defend; to shelter; to shield from surprise or attack; to protect by attendance; to accompany for protection; to care for. [ 1913 Webster ]

For Heaven still guards the right. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To keep watch over, in order to prevent escape or restrain from acts of violence, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To protect the edge of, esp. with an ornamental border; hence, to face or ornament with lists, laces, etc.

The body of your discourse is sometime guarded with fragments, and the guards are but slightly basted on neither. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To fasten by binding; to gird. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson.

Syn. -- To defend; protect; shield; keep; watch. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. gardable. See Guard, v. t. ] Capable of being guarded or protected. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. wardage. See Guard, v. t. ] Wardship [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A guardian. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OF. guardant, p. pr. of guard&unr_;. See Guard, v. t. ] 1. Acting as guardian. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Her.) Same as Gardant. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Cautious; wary; circumspect; as, he was guarded in his expressions; framed or uttered with caution; as, his expressions were guarded. -- Guard"edly, adv. -- Guard"ed*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Guardianship. [ Obs. & R. ] “ His tuition and guardenage.” Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who guards. [ 1913 Webster ]