warder

¹ American  

[wawr-der] / ˈwɔr dər /

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.

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warder ² American  

[wawr-der] / ˈwɔr dər /

noun

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

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warder ¹ British  

/ ˈwɔːdə /

noun

1. an officer in charge of prisoners in a jail

2. a person who guards or has charge of something

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warder ² British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• wardership noun

Etymology

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 < ?

Example Sentences

But there he is, and because he is also a genius, his warders think he might be more than usually useful to them.

From Los Angeles Times

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

It turned out it was an elaborate ruse to allow Bester to escape that same night dressed in a warder's uniform.

From BBC

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

From Washington Post