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

Also known as Beefeaters, the warders are all military veterans who dress in distinctive black and scarlet Tudor-style uniforms and perform a hybrid role: providing security, leading tours of the tower, and performing ceremonial duties.

From Seattle Times

During the confusion caused by the fire in the Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein, Bester managed to escape from prison dressed as a warder.

From BBC

He allegedly greased a few palms, from warders to camera operators, and bought his way out of prison.

From BBC

“We buckled beneath the weight of this incessant refrain from teachers and warders,” she recalled.

From Washington Post

Soldiers and 'Beefeaters' - the red-coated warders usually found guarding the Tower of London - stood vigil with bowed heads.

From Reuters