Main Entry: ¹guard

Pronunciation: \ˈgärd\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English garde, from Anglo-French garde, guarde, warde, from garder, guarder, warder, to guard, defend, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German wartēn to watch, take care — more at ward

Date: 15th century

1 : one assigned to protect or oversee another: as a : a person or a body of persons on sentinel duty b plural : troops attached to the person of the sovereign c British : conductor b
2 a : a defensive state or attitude <asked him out when his guard was down> b : a defensive position (as in boxing)
3 a : the act or duty of protecting or defending b : the state of being protected : protection
4 : a protective or safety device; specifically : a device for protecting a machine part or the operator of a machine
5 archaic : precaution
6 a : a position or player next to the center in a football line b : a player stationed in the backcourt in basketball

— off guard : in an unprepared or unsuspecting state

— on guard : defensively watchful : alert