Garde
/ɡɑːrd/noun
A French word meaning guard, watch, or protection; also used in several loan expressions and names in English.
Did you know?French garde comes from a Germanic root meaning “to guard,” the same ancient source behind English words like guard and ward, where protection was once a physical, almost ritual act.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*wardōną / *wardjaz
“to watch, guard; one who watches”
Old High German
OHG
wartēn
“to watch, guard”
Old French
OF
garde
“guard, protection, custody”
Middle English
ME
garde
“guard, protective watch; also a command to beware”
Modern English
English
guard / garde
“protection, a watch, or a person who protects”