| guard | 1. One who, or that which, guards from injury, danger, exposure, or attack; defense; protection. "His greatness was no guard to bar heaven's shaft." (Shak) 2. A man, or body of men, stationed to protect or control a person or position; a watch; a sentinel. "The guard which kept the door of the king's house." Kings xiv. 27. 3. One who has charge of a mail coach or a railway train; a conductor. 4. Any fixture or attachment designed to protect or secure against injury, soiling, or defacement, theft or loss; as: That part of a sword hilt which protects the hand. Ornamental lace or hem protecting the edge of a garment. A chain or cord for fastening a watch to one's person or dress. A fence or rail to prevent falling from the deck of a vessel. An extension of the deck of a vessel beyond the hull; especially, in side-wheel steam vessels, the framework of strong timbers, which curves out on each side beyond the paddle wheel, and protects it and the shaft against collision. A plate of metal, beneath the stock, or the lock frame, of a gun or pistol, having a loop, called a bow, to protect the trigger. An interleaved strip at the back, as in a scrap book, to guard against its breaking when filled. 5. A posture of defense in fencing, and in bayonet and saber exercise. 6. An expression or admission intended to secure against objections or censure. "They have expressed themselves with as few guards and restrictions as I." (Atterbury) 7. Watch; heed; care; attention; as, to keep guard. 8. <zoology> The fibrous sheath which covers the phragmacone of the Belemnites. Guard is often used adjectively or in combination; as, guard boat or guardboat; guardroom or guard room; guard duty. Advanced guard, Coast guard, etc. See Advanced, Coast, etc. Grand guard, one of the posts of the second line belonging to a system of advance posts of an army. Guard boat. A boat appointed to row the rounds among ships of war in a harbor, to see that their officers keep a good lookout. A boat used by harbor authorities to enforce the observance of quarantine regulations. <botany> Guard cells, to go on duty as a guard or sentinel. To run the guard, to pass the watch or sentinel without leave. Synonym: Defense, shield, protection, safeguard, convoy, escort, care, attention, watch, heed. Origin: OF. Guarde, F. Garde; of German origin; cf. OHG. Wart, marto, one who watches, mata a watching, Goth. Wardja watchman. See Guard. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| guard cell | <plant biology> Plant cells occurring in pairs in the epidermis, flanking each stoma. Changes in turgor in the guard cells cause the stoma to open and close. (18 Nov 1997) |
| 1. A bag; a wallet. 2. The bag or bags with the letters, papers, papers, or other matter contained therein, conveyed under public authority from one post office to another; the whole system of appliances used by government in the conveyance and delivery of mail matter. "There is a mail come in to-day, with letters dated Hague." (Tatler) 3. That which comes in the mail; letters, etc, received through the post office. 4. A trunk, box, or bag, in which clothing, etc, may be carried. Mail bag, a bag in which mailed matter is conveyed under public authority. Mail boat, a boat that carries the mail. Mail catcher, an iron rod, or other contrivance, attached to a railroad car for catching a mail bag while the train is in motion. Mail guard, an officer whose duty it is to guard the public mails. Mail train, a railroad train carrying the mail. Origin: OE. Male bag, OF. Male, F. Malle bag, trunk, mail, OHG. Malaha, malha, wallet; akin to D. Maal, male; cf. Gael. & Ir. Mala, Gr. Hide, skin. 1. A flexible fabric made of metal rings interlinked. It was used especially for defensive armor. Chain mail, Coat of mail. See Chain, and Coat. 2. Hence generally, armor, or any defensive covering. 3. A contrivance of interlinked rings, for rubbing off the loose hemp on lines and white cordage. 4. <zoology> Any hard protective covering of an animal, as the scales and plates of reptiles, shell of a lobster, etc. "We . . . Strip the lobster of his scarlet mail." (Gay) Origin: OE. Maile, maille, F. Maille a ring of mail, mesh, network, a coat of mail, fr. L. Macula spot, a mesh of a net. Cf. Macle, Macula, Mascle. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| mail-shell | <zoology> A chiton. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sea-mail | <zoology> A gull; the mew. Origin: Sea + (perhaps) Mall Mally, for Mary; hence, Prov. E. Mally a hare. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |