8. (Zoˆl.) 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 under Advanced, Coast, etc. --
Grand guard (Mil.), one of the posts of the second line belonging to a
system of advance posts of an army. Mahan. -- Guard boat. (a) A boat
appointed to row the rounds among ships of war in a harbor, to see that
their officers keep a good lookout. (b) A boat used by harbor
authorities to enforce the observance of quarantine regulations. --
Guard cells (Bot.), the bordering cells of stomates; they are
crescent-shaped and contain chlorophyll. -- Guard chamber, a guardroom.
-- Guard detail (Mil.), men from a company regiment etc., detailed for
guard duty. - - Guard duty (Mil.), the duty of watching patrolling,
etc., performed by a sentinel or sentinels. -- Guard lock (Engin.), a
tide lock at the mouth of a dock or basin. -- Guard of honor (Mil.), a
guard appointed to receive or to accompany eminent persons. -- Guard
rail (Railroads), a rail placed on the inside of a main rail, on
bridges, at switches, etc., as a safeguard against derailment. -- Guard
ship, a war vessel appointed to superintend the marine affairs in a
harbor, and also, in the English service, to receive seamen till they
can be distributed among their respective ships. -- Life guard (Mil.),
a body of select troops attending the person of a prince or high
officer. -- Off one's guard, in a careless state; inattentive;
unsuspicious of danger. -- On guard, serving in the capacity of a
guard; doing duty as a guard or sentinel; watching. -- On one's guard,
in a watchful state; alert; vigilant. -- To mount guard (Mil.), to go
on duty as a guard or sentinel. -- To run the guard, to pass the watch
or sentinel without leave.
Syn. -- Defense; shield; protection; safeguard; convoy; escort; care;
attention; watch; heed.
Guard"a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. gardable. See Guard, v. t.] Capable of
being guarded or protected.
Guard"age (?), n. [Cf. OF. wardage. See Guard, v. t.] Wardship [Obs.]
Shak.
Guard"ant (?), a. [OF. guardant, p. pr. of guard&?;. See Guard, v. t.]
1. Acting as guardian. [Obs.] Shak.