Lifeguard
/ˈlaɪf.ɡɑːrd/noun
A person whose job is to watch over swimmers and rescue them from danger.
Did you know?Unlike words with occult or mythic origins, *lifeguard* is a straightforward English compound, but it still carries the ancient power of naming someone as a guardian of life itself.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
līf
“life, living existence”
Middle English
ME
garde
“watch, protection, guarding”
Early Modern English
English
life guard
“a guard assigned to protect life, especially in military or ceremonial use”
18th–19th Century
English
lifeguard
“a person employed to watch over bathers and swimmers and rescue them if needed”
Modern English
English
lifeguard
“a person who supervises swimmers for safety”
Explore more surprising origins