A prison (Genesis 40:3, 4); a watch-station (Isaiah 21:8); a guard (Nehemiah 13:30).

Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language

1. (n.) The act of guarding; watch; guard; guardianship; specifically, a guarding during the day. See the Note under Watch, n., 1.

2. (n.) One who, or that which, guards; garrison; defender; protector; means of guarding; defense; protection.

3. (n.) The state of being under guard or guardianship; confinement under guard; the condition of a child under a guardian; custody.

4. (n.) A guarding or defensive motion or position, as in fencing; guard.

5. (n.) One who, or that which, is guarded.

6. (n.) A minor or person under the care of a guardian; as, a ward in chancery.

7. (n.) A division of a county.

8. (n.) A division, district, or quarter of a town or city.

9. (n.) A division of a forest.

10. (n.) A division of a hospital; as, a fever ward.

11. (n.) A projecting ridge of metal in the interior of a lock, to prevent the use of any key which has not a corresponding notch for passing it.

12. (n.) A notch or slit in a key corresponding to a ridge in the lock which it fits; a ward notch.

13. (n.) To keep in safety; to watch; to guard; formerly, in a specific sense, to guard during the day time.

14. (n.) To defend; to protect.

15. (n.) To defend by walls, fortifications, etc.

16. (n.) To fend off; to repel; to turn aside, as anything mischievous that approaches; -- usually followed by off.

17. (v. i.) To be vigilant; to keep guard.

18. (v. i.) To act on the defensive with a weapon.

19. (v. i.) Alt. of -wards