Guard - Definition and Overview

A guard is either a person or an organisation. It may be a person who looks after the safety of people or property, and/or make sure prisoners do not escape. It may also be a part of the military. It can also be an object, a fireguard for example.

Examples:

• Bodyguard
• Coast Guard
• National Guard
• Republican Guard
• Security guard
• Yeomen of the Guard

They may also be elite military forces which guards a head of state:

• Praetorian Guard
• Varangian Guard
• Swiss Guard

Because the head of state often wishes to be protected by the best soldiers available, their numbers and organisation may be expanded to carry out additional tasks:

• Persian Immortals
• The Horse Guards and Foot Guards Regiments of the Household Division of the Commonwealth armies
• The Napoleon's Imperial Guard
• The Iraqi Republican Guard

Some times the term has been used for the complete military organisation of a state, because it guards the state from its enemies:

• Red Guard
• White Guard

It can also be a term used in sports such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Judo or Submission Wrestling

• Brazilian Jiu Jitsu guard

A guard is also a railway employee who (normally) travels in the last vehicle of a train and is responsible for the safety of the train itself.

See also:

• Vanguard (or advanced guard) and Rearguard or rear guard of an army
• hilt (of a sword)
• a defensive position in historical fencing, see ward (fencing)
• Guard (American football)