Safety \Safe"ty\, n. [Cf. F. sauvet['e].] 1. The condition or state of being safe; freedom from danger or hazard; exemption from hurt, injury, or loss. Up led by thee, Into the heaven I have presumed, An earthly guest . . . With like safety guided down, Return me to my native element. --Milton. 2. Freedom from whatever exposes one to danger or from liability to cause danger or harm; safeness; hence, the quality of making safe or secure, or of giving confidence, justifying trust, insuring against harm or loss, etc. Would there were any safety in thy sex, That I might put a thousand sorrows off, And credit thy repentance! --Beau. & Fl. 3. Preservation from escape; close custody. Imprison him, . . . Deliver him to safety; and return. --Shak. 4. (Football) Same as Safety touchdown, below. Safety arch (Arch.), a discharging arch. See under Discharge, v. t. Safety belt, a belt made of some buoyant material, or which is capable of being inflated, so as to enable a person to float in water; a life preserver. Safety buoy, a buoy to enable a person to float in water; a safety belt. Safety cage (Mach.), a cage for an elevator or mine lift, having appliances to prevent it from dropping if the lifting rope should break. Safety lamp. (Mining) See under Lamp. Safety match, a match which can be ignited only on a surface specially prepared for the purpose. Safety pin, a pin made in the form of a clasp, with a guard covering its point so that it will not prick the wearer. Safety plug. See Fusible plug, under Fusible. Safety switch. See Switch. Safety touchdown (Football), the act or result of a player's touching to the ground behind his own goal line a ball which received its last impulse from a man on his own side; -- distinguished from touchback. See Touchdown.