guard

Where does the word "guard" come from? It comes from Frankish wardon, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

Guard’s story begins in Frankish: wardon meant “to watch, guard.” A Frankish word; the same Germanic root gives English 'ward'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as garder. Germanic w became gu in French. It reached English by 1400s as guard. English kept both 'guard' and 'ward'. Today, guard means a person who protects or watches over.

1. Stage 1 · Frankish · ancient wardon "to watch, guard", a Frankish word; the same Germanic root gives English 'ward'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval garder "to guard", Germanic w became gu in French.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s guard "protector", English kept both 'guard' and 'ward'.