ward \ward\, n. as. weard, fem., guard, weard, masc., keeper,
   guard; akin to os. ward a watcher, warden, g. wart, ohg.
   wart, icel. v"orethr a warden, a watch, goth. -wards in
   da'urawards a doorkeeper, and e. wary; cf. of. warde guard,
   from the german. see ware, a., wary, and cf. guard,
   wraith.
   1. the act of guarding; watch; guard; guardianship;
      specifically, a guarding during the day. see the note
      under watch, n., 1.
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            still, when she slept, he kept both watch and ward.
                                                  --spenser.
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   2. one who, or that which, guards; garrison; defender;
      protector; means of guarding; defense; protection.
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            for the best ward of mine honor.      --shak.
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            the assieged castle's ward
            their steadfast stands did mightily maintain.
                                                  --spenser.
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            for want of other ward,
            he lifted up his hand, his front to guard. --dryden.
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   3. the state of being under guard or guardianship;
      confinement under guard; the condition of a child under a
      guardian; custody.
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            and he put them in ward in the house of the captain
            of the guard.                         --gen. xl. 3.
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            i must attend his majesty's command, to whom i am
            now in ward.                          --shak.
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            it is also inconvenient, in ireland, that the wards
            and marriages of gentlemen's children should be in
            the disposal of any of those lords.   --spenser.
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   4. a guarding or defensive motion or position, as in fencing;
      guard. "thou knowest my old ward; here i lay, and thus i
      bore my point." --shak.
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   5. one who, or that which, is guarded. specifically: 
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      a a minor or person under the care of a guardian; as, a
          ward in chancery. "you know our father's ward, the
          fair monimia." --otway.
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      b a division of a county. eng.  scot.
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      c a division, district, or quarter of a town or city.
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                throughout the trembling city placed a guard,
                dealing an equal share to every ward. --dryden.
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      d a division of a forest. eng.
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      e a division of a hospital; as, a fever ward.
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   6.
      a a projecting ridge of metal in the interior of a lock,
          to prevent the use of any key which has not a
          corresponding notch for passing it.
      b a notch or slit in a key corresponding to a ridge in
          the lock which it fits; a ward notch. --knight.
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                the lock is made . . . more secure by attaching
                wards to the front, as well as to the back,
                plate of the lock, in which case the key must be
                furnished with corresponding notches.
                                                  --tomlinson.
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   ward penny o. eng. law, money paid to the sheriff or
      castellan for watching and warding a castle.

   ward staff, a constable's or watchman's staff. obs.
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see also:
ware wary guard wraith watch ward penny 
ward staff