Etymology Dictionary

WARD,  a guard, a watch, means of guarding, one who is under a guardian, &c.  (E.)   1. M.E. ward, dat. warde, P. Plowman, B. xviii. 320; pl. wardes, guards, King Alisaunder, 1977.—A.S. weard, a guard, watchman, Grein, ii. 673.   This is a masc. sb. (gen. weardes); we also find A.S. weard, fem. (gen. wearde), a guarding, watching, protection; id.   Both senses are still retained.   Both sbs. are formed from the Teut. base WAR, to defend; see Wary.   Thus the orig. sense of the masc. sb. is 'a defender,' and of the fem. sb. is 'a defence.' + Icel. vörðr, gen. varðar, (1) a warder or watchman, (2) a watch. + G. wart, a warder. + Goth. wards, masc. sb., a keeper, only in the comp. daurawards, a door-keeper.   All these are extensions from the same root.   2. From this sb. was formed the verb to ward, A.S. weardian, to keep, to watch, Grein, ii. 674; cognate with which are Icel. varða, to warrant, and G. warten, M.H.G. warden, to watch, from the latter of which is derived (through the French) E. guard.   Der. ward-er, Spenser, F. Q. v. 2. 21; ward-room, ward-ship.   Also ward-en, q.v., ward-robe, q.v.   Also bear-ward, door-ward, hay-ward (= hedge-ward, from F. haie, a hedge); ste-ward, q.v.; wraith, q.v.   Doublet, guard, sb. and verb.