lifeguard

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A person whose job is to watch swimmers at a beach or pool and rescue them if they are in danger.

   The lifeguard blew her whistle when the children swam too far out.

From life + guard, calque of Dutch lijfgarde, where life has the sense of Dutch lijf (“body”) (hence literally “bodyguard”). Compare German Leibgarde (“bodyguard”), Danish livgarde (“bodyguard”), Swedish livgarde (“bodyguard”). Compare also Old English līfweard (“guardian of life”).

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