Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “guard” come from?

guard (English) comes from Middle English garde, from Old French guarde, from Old French guarder, from Frankish wardēn, from Proto-Germanic wardāną, from Proto-Germanic *warduz, from Proto-Indo-European wēr-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.

guard (English): A person who, or thing that, protects or watches...

Definitions

  1. A person who, or thing that, protects or watches...

Ancestry of “guard”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishgardeguardianship, safeguarding, covering, authority;...
2Old Frenchguardeprotection; act of protecting; guard; inflection...
3Old Frenchguarderto protect; to guard; to look at
4Frankishwardēnto protect; to guard, protect, watch over; to...
5Proto-Germanicwardānąto guard, protect, watch over
6Proto-Germanic*warduz—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwēr-true
8Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel

Words derived from “guard”

  • bodyguard
  • blackguard
  • rearguard
  • guardhouse
  • lifeguard
  • guardsman
  • coastguard
  • guardrail
  • guardroom
  • pickguard
  • blackguardism
  • blackguardly
  • outguard
  • guardship
  • mudguard
  • afterguard
  • fireguard
  • coastguardsman
  • lifeguarding
  • guardeth
  • Scotchgard
  • mouthguard
  • guardless
  • guardpost
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer- →