Obs. Forms: 4 wardecors, -corps, 5 ward(e) corce, wardcors(e, (wardecose, wardcorpse). [a. AF. wardecors (recorded in sense 2; also latinized wardecosia, wordecorsum, etc.) = OF. gardecorps; f. OF. warde, f. warde-r = garder to guard (see GUARD, WARD vbs.) + corps body.]
1. A body-guard; an armed personal attendant. Cf. GARDE-DU-CORPS.
a. 1330. Otuel, 1409. His wardecors a non he fond, & tok a spere out of his hond.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Wife’s Prol., 359. Thogh thou preye Argus with hise hundred eyen To be my wardecors.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 389. Þerfore whan Phelip sat in þe feste of spousaille withoute wardecorses [L. sine custodibus: 1485 Caxton wardcorpses] Pausania, a noble ȝong man, slowȝ him riȝt þere.
a. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 287. Kyng Darius made a questyon to þre of hys wardcorsis.
2. An over-garment for out-door use.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 516/1. Warde corce, clothe (v.rr. wardecose, ward corscloth, wardcorce), tunica, tunicella.
1483. Cath. Angl., 408/1. Wardcorse, reno.
