warder

¹

[ wawr-der ]

noun

1. a person who guards something, as a doorkeeper or caretaker.
2. a soldier or other person set to guard an entrance.
3. Chiefly British. an official having charge of prisoners in a jail.

warder

²

[ wawr-der ]

noun

1. a truncheon or staff of office or authority, used in giving signals.

warder

¹

/ ˈwɔːdə /

noun

1. (formerly) a staff or truncheon carried by a ruler as an emblem of authority and used to signal his wishes or intentions

warder

²

/ ˈwɔːdə /

noun

1. an officer in charge of prisoners in a jail
2. a person who guards or has charge of something

Derived Forms

• ˈwardership, noun

Other Words From

• warder·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of warder¹

1350–1400; Middle English warder ( e ) ( ward, -er ¹ ); compare Anglo-French wardere < Middle English

Origin of warder²

1400–50; late Middle English < ?

Word History and Origins

Origin of warder¹

C15: perhaps from Middle English warden to ward

Origin of warder²

C14: from Anglo-French wardere, from Old French warder to guard , of Germanic origin

Example Sentences

Johnson Mlambo, also jailed in 1963, was singled out by warder Piet Kleynhans, who said he did not move enough rocks.

From The Daily Beast

The son of a ner-se-ga, a palace warder, or the son of a vowed woman no one has any claim upon.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet a convent is well enclosed and guarded, with bars to the windows, walls of height and a warder who keeps the keys.

From Project Gutenberg

The double doors were unlocked, the prisoner ascended a few steps, followed by the Lieutenant, and a warder of the higher class.

From Project Gutenberg

A warder attended to do the honours of the table, and made a sign to the disguised female to rise and assist him in his functions.

From Project Gutenberg

The warder, and every soldier who had been on duty that night, were arrested and questioned.

From Project Gutenberg