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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ward, Waird, v.¹ Also: warde, varde, wairde, wayrd, vayrd, werd. [ME and e.m.E. wardien (Ancr. R.), warde(n (1340-70), OE weardian, MLG warden, ON varða, north-eastern OF warder; Ward n.¹]

1. intr.a. In collocation with walk (wach), to guard, protect, see Walk v.¹ 7 b, c, d for further examples. Cf. Ward n.¹ 2 e. b. Const. on: To guard, protect something. c. tr.To protect (someone or something) (from something).a. 1585 Forres B. Ct. 23 Dec.
Vardeb. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4489 (B).
Ane vthir fule cumis and brekis the lokkis And spendis that vthir fulis hes spaird Quha nevir thocht on thame to waird [Ch. wairde]c. 1590 Burel Pilgr. i 69.
Thir two now, did go now, Sum solit pairt to find To waird thame and gaird thame, From bitter blaists of wind 1596 Dalr. II 283/25.
He burnte in pietie to ward his cuntrie

2. a. intr.Of a minor: To be in the guardianship of his feudal superior or one appointed by him (see Ward n.¹ 3 a). b. Of lands: To be in the control of the feudal superior of a minor (see Ward n.¹ 3 b). c. Of a person: To hold land by knight service (see Ward n.¹ 3 d). d. tr., fig.? To control (something).a. 1437 Cop. St. A. 155.
Oure tenand … awcht of law for defawt of lauchfull elde to warde till wsb. 1478 Acta Conc. I 5/1.
The tane half of the said landis is haldin … of the lard of Inuerugy that ȝit lefis, that therfore that half the landis wardis nocht 1485 Breadalbane Doc. No. 22.
Gif … the saidis landis … sal hapin to ward in the kingis handis I bind … me … to … pay to the said Duncane … alsmekle as sal hapin him … to sustene of schatht be the warding of the saidis landis 1586 Misc. Spald. C. IV 237.
The landis perteining to the hous of Weyme, that presentlie wairdis in his lordschips handis, as donatour to our souerane lordis gift of the waird, … of Allexander Menzes my sonnec. 1682 Spottiswoode Misc. I 317.
Some few, some waird, but the other thrie hold of the king feu, And are all … to give suit and presence at thrie head courts in the yeird. c1590 Fowler I 366/32.
What shall I vnto those lipps compare … Or to those teath, those peirlesse peirles … That wardes thaffeccions of my pleased spreit?

3. To put or keep in custody or confinement ((with)in a place), to jail, imprison. Also reflex.and absol.Also fig.b. intr.To be or remain in custody. c. reflex.To confine or enclose (oneself) upe, as a means of protection.pres. 1560 Admir. Ct. Bk. (St. S.) 149.
The said Thomas … desyrit cautioun of the said Johnne … and desyrit the juge to tak the samyn or ellis to waird him conforme to the lawis of this realme 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Religo, -as, to send away, to wairde 1600 Conv. Burghs II 82.
To incarcerat and waird the awneris and boitmen thairof c1650 Spalding I 258.
The King … wairdis him for dispersing of sic seditious pamphletis c1650 Spalding I 268.
The provest receaves thame, wairdes thame, and causit lovs thair schaklesp.t. c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 844.
The Inglis capitane … He wairdit him in the Blaknes … Togither with his companie … Till thay had payit thair ransoun 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I 131.
[He] wardit hir Hienes in the castell of Dunbar 1570 Sat. P. x 311.
He … wardit tham, quhilk maid the rest keip ordourp.p. 1482–3 Acta Conc. II cxxii.
That the witnes … be summond … to be wardit for thair absence 1508 Reg. Privy S. I 247/1.
The saidis personis war convict … and dome gevin apoun thair personis to be wardit thairfor 1553 Reg. Privy C. I 146.
Quhairthrow the said Sir James persoun mycht be wardit or punist 1565–6 Reg. Privy C. I 423.
Gevis libertie to the said Johnne Rutherfurde [etc.] … wardit within the burgh of Edinburgh … to pas home to thair dwelling places 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 521.
The … authouris of the murthour being requirit to be wardit quhill the tryall of thair caus 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 55.
The lard of Amisfeild, his kepar wardit in Falkland for him 1570 Crail B. Ct. 4 Dec.
Thomas Beane bailȝie ordanit his rediest guidis … to be distrenȝeit … for the samin or ellis his persoun to be wardit and incarcerate thair foir 1596 Dalr. I 179/21.
The king wardet, in the meine tyme, invades him a troupe of harneste men, and suddenlie is he slane 1598 R. Brown Paisley I 173.
Gif ony persons, being wardit as said is, breks ward [etc.] 1599 St. A. Kirk S. 887.
Ninian Mauchane … Androw Chaplane [etc.] … for vagand in tyme of sermone … ar ordinit … to be wardit thrie houris 1610 Reg. Privy C. IX 102.
Thay being bothe wardit in thair ludgeingis at command … of the saidis lordis 1615 Peebles Gleanings 35.
[The council] findis that the provest may nocht freith nane wardit be the bailleis without thair consent 1624 Elgin Rec. II 184.
Reservand only the jayalour feis of persones wardit(b) 1573-1600 Burne Disput. in Cath. Tr. 116/10.
I … vas vayrdit in the Tolbuith of Edinburgh 1599 Cart. S. Giles cxiv.
The sclaittis and rwiff of thair kirk hes bene greatlie damnefeyed be the … criminall persouns wayrdit in the steipill c1650 Spalding I 217.
The marques … and sum vtheris who war wairdit in the castell of Edinbrugh, ar put to libertie a1651 Calderwood II 316.
Their goods were confiscated, their offices dispouned, their friends wairded or confyned 1664 Nicoll Diary 425.
The rest of the prenteissis and servandis, sa mony of thame as wer apprehendit, wer wairdit, and sum of thame wer criminally accused and put to the tryell of ane inqueist(c) 1684 Rec. of Old Tolbooth in Bk. Old Edinb. C. IX 166.
Laidie Colvine werdit … for not payement maikeingreflex. 1601 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 180.
I offer to your wisdomes to warde my selff within my awin houss and ane myle about meabsol. 1675 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS 8 March.
Recomends the magistrats to poynd or waird heirfor as they shall think expedientfig. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2942.
The paddok … Is mannis bodie … In to this warld with cairis implicate … Now dolorus, now blyth … Now in fredome, now wardit in distres a1568 Bann. MS 223b/33.
Luf hes me wardit in ane park of paneb. 1629 Elgin Rec. II 212.
For taking a kist out of a bairnes grave … he sall ward 48 hoursc. a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 286/37.
Wald ȝe warde ȝow vpe betwne tua wais Ȝit so ȝe sall not frome thair sayingis save ȝou

4. To ward (off) a blow. Also in fig. context. Urquhart Jewel 137.
He for twenty several bouts did but ward their blows, and pary with the fort of his sword 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1751) 20.
His other eye look'd so asquint That it was hard to ward his dintfig. 1700 D. Williamson Sermon Preached before Commissioner 11.
The helmet or head-piece that wairds off the stroaks of Satans smarting temptations