1. (n.) 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.

2. (n.) To keep watch over, in order to prevent escape or restrain from acts of violence, or the like.

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

4. (n.) To fasten by binding; to gird.

5. (v. i.) To watch by way of caution or defense; to be caution; to be in a state or position of defense or safety; as, careful persons guard against mistakes.

6. (n.) One who, or that which, guards from injury, danger, exposure, or attack; defense; protection.

7. (n.) A man, or body of men, stationed to protect or control a person or position; a watch; a sentinel.

8. (n.) One who has charge of a mail coach or a railway train; a conductor.

9. (v. t.) Any fixture or attachment designed to protect or secure against injury, soiling, or defacement, theft or loss

10. (v. t.) That part of a sword hilt which protects the hand.

11. (v. t.) Ornamental lace or hem protecting the edge of a garment.

12. (n.) A chain or cord for fastening a watch to one's person or dress.

13. (n.) A fence or rail to prevent falling from the deck of a vessel.

14. (n.) 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.

15. (n.) 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.

16. (n.) An interleaved strip at the back, as in a scrap book, to guard against its breaking when filled.

17. (n.) A posture of defense in fencing, and in bayonet and saber exercise.

18. (n.) An expression or admission intended to secure against objections or censure.

19. (v. t.) Watch; heed; care; attention; as, to keep guard.

20. (n.) The fibrous sheath which covers the phragmacone of the Belemnites.

Coldstream Guards Foot Guards Grenadier Guards Life Guards Scots Guards accompany advance guard advocate aegis amateur athlete apologist archer arm arm guard armament armed guard armor arrest athlete attend avoidance reaction backstop baggage man bakehead ballplayer bank guard baseballer baseman batter battery beefeaters bless blocking back bodyguard bowman brakeman brakie bridle buffer bull bulwark bumper butcher catcher cavalier center champion chaperon check cloak coach coast guard commandant companion compass about competitor conduct conductor conserve constrain contain contraceptive control convoy cool cool off copyright cordon cordon sanitaire cover crash helmet cricketer curb curtail cushion custodian custodianship custody dashboard decelerate defence defend defender defense defense in depth defense mechanism defenses defensive lineman deterrent capacity dispatcher dodger dompt duenna eagle eye ego defenses end enjoin ensure escape mechanism escort esquire eye face mask fellow traveler fence fend fender finger guard fireman flank foot guard footballer footplate man fuse games-player gamester gaoler garrison gentleman-at-arms goalie goalkeeper goaltender goggles govern governor guarantee guard against guardedness guarder guardian guardianship guardrail guards guardsman guide hand guard handrail harbor hard hat haven helmet hinder hold at bay hold back hold fast hold in hold in check hold in leash hold up household troops infielder inhibit inlying picket insulation insure interlock invigilation jailer jock jumper keep keep alive keep back keep from keep from harm keep in keep in check keep intact keep inviolate keep safe keep under control keep up keep watch over keeper knee guard knuckle guard laminated glass lay under restraint lead lee life preserver lifeline lightning conductor lightning rod lineman look after lookout maintain make safe marshal mask mind monitoring mudguard negative taxis nestle nose guard not destroy not endanger not expend not use up not waste observance offensive lineman outfield outfielder outguard outpost pad padding paladin palladium patent patrol patrolman peeled eye picket pilot player police poloist porter praetorian guard preservation preserve preventive principal keeper prison guard proctoring professional athlete prohibit prophylactic protect protection protective clothing protective custody protective umbrella protector prudence psychological defenses pugilist pull pull in quarterback qui vive racer railroad man railroader rear guard redcap refuge register rein rein in