Forms: 3–6 wardein, 6 wardeine, 4–6 wardeyn(e, 4–5 wardain(e, -ayn(e, 4 Sc. vardane, 4–6 north. and Sc. wardan(e, 5 werdein, werdeyn, Sc. wardand, 5–6 wardyn, 6 Sc. varden, -an, vordan, wairdan(e, 4– warden. [a. OF. wardein, north-eastern var. of guarden, -ene: see GUARDIAN.
The word is current as a traditional designation of office; in other uses it is poet. or arch. In the legal uses the AF. form is gardein, and in many of them guardian is the preferred form in Eng. In Anglo-Latin rendered by custos.]
† 1. One who guards, protects or defends; occas. a guardian angel: = GUARDIAN 1. Obs.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 312. Wat Crist ure euerichon to so gentil wardein bereð to lutel menske.
c. 1290. John, 31, in S. E. Leg., 403. Þere in seint Iohanes warde is swete moder he tok,… hire wardein he was aftur also þat he to heouene i-wende.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter xxxiii. 7. Þat he be wardayn of þaim þat dredis him purly.
c. 1400. Pylgr. Sowle (Caxton), I. vii. (1859), 6. There is none so caitif pilgrym that he ne hath assigned hym a wardeyne the hour of his byrthe.
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 2441. Silence of tunge is wardein of good fame.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XI. xv. 43. O brycht Apollo … Of haly mont Soractis the wardane.
† b. Astr. = GUARD sb. 12. Cf. GUARDIAN 5.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 218. The starres which are cauled the wardens of the north starre. Ibid., 270.
2. One who has the care of something specified; a keeper. Obs. exc. poet.
a. 1290. S. Eustace, 230, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 216. Þe hayward nom and bleu his horn, For he wes wardein of þat corn.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4691. [Ioseph] Garners and granges fild wit sede, In ilk sted a sere wardain.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. I. 53. For Rihtfoliche Resoun schulde rulen ou alle, And kuynde wit be wardeyn oure weolþe to kepe.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 393. One of þe wardeynes þat kepte þe body of Seint Andrewe in Constantinople. Ibid., II. 425. Þe wardeyn [L. custos] of þe asse folowede after. Ibid., IV. 33. Demetrius þat was wardeyn of his bookes.
1422. Hoccleve, Jonathas, 223. Let me been of it [sc. the ring] wardeyn; ffor as my lyf, keepe it wole y certeyn.
1871. Rossetti, Poems, Eden Bower, xxi. Of all this wealth I have made thee warden.
† b. One in charge of a division of an army. Obs.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 9003. Þe king henri is ost a þre deide þere … him sulf in þe oþer was … & þanne is tueie sones were wardeins of þe þridde.
c. Warden of the Peace = ‘Guardian of the Peace’: see GUARDIAN 1 b.
1543. trans. Act 4 Edw. III., c. 2. The iustices assigned … shall haue power to delyuer the same iayles of those that shalbe endited before the wardeins of the peace [orig. les gardeins de la pees].
1854. J. T. Smith, Parish, ii. 38. The Sheriffs and other Wardens of the peace … are required [etc.].
d. A gatekeeper, porter, sentinel. Now rare.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 272. He sette one wummon uorto beon ȝeteward, þet is, feble wardein.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, V. 1177. The wardeyn of þe yates gan to calle The folk, which þat with-oute the yates were, And bad hym dryuen In here bestes alle.
1801. Southey, Thalaba, XII. xix. At the threshold of the rocky door,.., Fit warden of the sorcery-gate, A rebel Afreet lay.
1815. Falconer’s Dict. Marine (ed. Burney), Wardens of His Majesty’s Dock-Yards, are generally old lieutenants in the royal navy, appointed … to see that no person whatever be admitted without an order from the commissioner.
1838. Prescott, Ferd. & Is., I. x. II. 21. The man was apprehended by the warden of the frontier of Jaen.
a. 1839. Praed, Poems (1864), II. 376. I’ve won from the warden The key,—the key; And the steed’s in the garden For me,—for me.
1892. Stevenson, In South Seas, IV. iii. Female wardens made a fit outpost for this palace of many women.
† 3. The person invested with the control of the person and lands of an orphan heir during his minority; also, in wider sense, one who has the charge and oversight of young persons: = GUARDIAN 2. Obs.
c. 1290. Beket, 269, in S. E. Leg., 114. In his warde he let do his eldeste sone sire henri … Þat he were is wardein and al is ordeinour.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6418. Þo bed he þe court segge soþ … wan edmond made is eir of is lond wiþoute striue, & wan of is ȝonge sones wardein ek ydo.
c. 1305. St. Kenelm, 105, in E. E. P. (1862), 50. Þis ȝunge child a maister hadde: þat his wardeyn was.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 1104. Þemperour … made him kniȝt on the morwe & mo for his sake of proude princes sones douȝti men toward,… & made william here wardeyn as he wel miȝt, to gye & to gouerne þe gay yong kniȝtes.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 753. Thus here wardeynys wolde they disceyue.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 85. [Ancus] made hym wardeyn of his heyres.
1543. trans. Act 3 Edw. I., c. 21. The wardeyns shall kepe and susteyne the landes without makynge dystruction of any thynge.
1579. Expos. Terms Law, 97 b. Wardeine most properly is he that hath the wardship or keeping of an heire, & of lande holden by knightes seruice, or of one of them to his owne vse during ye nonage of the heire, [etc.].
1700. Tyrrell, Hist. Eng., II. 811. The Warden, or Guardian of the Land of such Heir, who shall be under Age.
4. A regent or viceroy appointed to rule a country in the king’s absence or minority. Obs. exc. Hist.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4651. Al þat barunage,… To þis ioseph an ath þai suare, Til him als wardan for to tent.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVI. 33. The tane the steward walter was. The tothir Iames of dowglas, Vardanis in [his] absens maid he.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arthur, 650. I make the kepare … of kyngrykes manye, Wardayne wyrchipfulle, to weilde al my landes.
c. 1420. Wyntoun, Cron., cxxxii. 2175. Throu Schir Andro Murrayis renovne, Quhen he wes wardane of Scotland.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, VI. 768. Thai chesd Wallace Scottis wardand to be.
1509. Reg. Privy Seal Scot., I. 262/2. Ony proclamatioun … made generaly be the king or his wardanis anent the intercommonyn and sitting apoun the Inglismenis assouerans.
1640. Yorke, Union Hon., 27. Edward … the eldest sonne of king Edward [II.] in the … absence of his Father … was made Lord Warden of England, by a common decree.
1651. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., II. xv. 134. Vicegerents…. Sometimes they are called Lord Warden, or Lord Keeper of the Kingdome, and have therewith the generall power of a King.
1878. J. Davidson, Inverurie, ii. 69. Randolph, Earl of Moray, who was Warden of Scotland in the minority of David, having died in 1331.
1912. E. Russell, Maitland of Lethington, i. 33. Illustrating the finesse with which Maitland contrived to get the necessary co-operation of Bothwell, the Scottish Warden, [etc.].
† b. The governor of a town, province or district; the commander of a fortress. Obs. exc. Hist. in the title Warden of the Marches.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2078. Þritti þousend kniȝtes hor wardeins hii sette & delde among hom al þe lond.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1725), 72. To London com William,… His barons with him nam. knyghtes þat wer bold. Wardeyns of tour & toun.
a. 1352. Minot, Poems, viii. 83. He was wardaine of þe toune.
c. 1400. Brut, ccviii. 237. Kyng Edward … sent maistre Walter of Stapleton, his Tresorer, forto bene wardein and keper of þe citee of London wiþ þe Mair. Ibid. (c. 1450), ccxl. 346. Þe King … made hym warden and gouernour of þe cite.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, I. viii. 44. And sire Brastias was maade wardeyn to wayte vpon the northe fro Trent forwardes.
1517. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., V. 123. The vordan of the Myddil Marche.
1557. North, trans. Gueuara’s Diall Pr. (1568), 2. Pretor of the Rhodian Armies, and also wardein in other frontiers.
1563. in Rymer, Foedera (1719), XV. 631. Schir Johne Maxwell of Terreglie Knycht Wardane of the West Mercheis of Scotland.
1917. Eng. Hist. Rev., Oct., 480. The notable feature of these proceedings [Nov. 1248] is that in them there is no mention of a Warden of the Marches. Ibid., 493. The little Duke of York … Warden-general of the Marches.
5. In certain guilds, esp. in the Livery Companies of the City of London: A member of the governing body under the authority of the Master or the Prime Warden (the title varies in different companies).
[1261. in Liber Custum. (Rolls), 79. Les Wardeyns [of the Lorimers] le moustrent au Meire qe donqe serra].
1389. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 3. Þe forsaide bretherhede wil þæt þer be wardeins þerof.
1454. Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889), 283. The wardyns of the Trinite Yelde.
1547. in Rymer, Faedera (1719), XV. 134. The Maisters Wardeyns Governours Rulers and Overseers of all and singuler the Hospitals Guylders Fraternyties and Houses for poor People.
1566. Act 8 Eliz., c. 13 § 1. The Mayster Wardens and Assistauntes of the Trinytie House of Deptforde Stronde.
1624. Massinger, Parlt. Love, IV. iii. Next year we will have him warden of our society.
1637. Decree Star Chamb., § 13, in Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 15. He … shall first giue notice to the said Master and Wardens of the Company of Stationers.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, lvii. The inscription about what the Master and Wardens of the Worshipful Company did in one thousand six hundred and ninety-four.
1886. C. E. Pascoe, London of To-day, vii. (ed. 3), 84. Interest with the Prime Warden, Master, or Clerk of a Company might possibly procure an invitation to one of these [banquets].
† 6. The person having the direction or oversight of some work or enterprise. Obs.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XII. v. (Bodl. MS.). Ȝif hem lakkeþ honye to eete þanne þe warden schalle feede hem [sc. the bees] with figes and oþur swete mete leste þey schulde deye.
c. 1400. Gamelyn, 279. Tho that wardeynes were of that wrasteling Come and broughte Gamelyn the ram and the ring.
1423. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 255/1. The serche of the wardens of Brauderie.
1543. trans. Act 18 Hen. VI., c. 16. A warden of the aulnage of cloth.
1552–3. in Feuillerat, Revels Edw. VI. (1914), 132. Robert Trunkewell Joyner being theyre warden and setting owte yre woorkes.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XXIII. vii. II. 167. Pythagoras, a great maister and warden of these exercises.
b. Freemasonry. Either of two officers (called Senior and Junior Warden) in a symbolic lodge whose duty it is to assist the Worshipful Master.
a. 1723. Wren, Parentalia (1750), 307. A Surveyor govern’d in chief; every tenth Man was called a Warden, and overlooked each nine.
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), X. 622/1. The king [Hen. VII.] presided as grand-master; and having appointed John Islip, abbot of Westminster, and Sir Reginald Bray, knight of the garter, his wardens for the occasion, proceeded in great state to … Westminster Abbey. Ibid., 623/2. On the 27th of December 1663, a general assembly was held, where Henry Jennyn earl of St. Alban’s was elected grandmaster; who appointed Sir John Denham his deputy, and Mr. Christopher Wren … and John Webb, his wardens.
7. The superintendent of a harbor, market or the like.
1538. Elyot, Dict., Limenarcha, the wardeyn of the portes.
1543. trans. Act 9 Edw. III., Stat. II. c. 7. That the tables of exchange shalbe at Douer,… And that the wardeyns of suche tables shall make suche exchaunges by the testymony of controllers whiche we shall put to them.
1543. trans. Act. 5 Rich. II., c. 2. Any serchours or wardeyn of the portes and passages through the sayd realme.
1546. Yorks. Chantry Surv. (Surtees), 245. To the burgh balyff of Skipton and the warden of the market ther.
1835. App. Munic. Corpor. Rep., II. 1043 [Officers of Sandwich corporation]. Wardens of the Flesh Market 2, Wardens of the Fish Market 2.
b. Forming the second element in the designation of certain officials, as barrack-warden. Fire-warden, U.S.: see FIRE sb. 5. Fish-warden, U.S., an official in charge of fisheries. Game-warden, an officer having the superintendence of the game of a particular locality.
1835. App. Munic. Corpor. Rep., IV. 2295 [Officers of Ipswich corporation]. Two Fleshwardens. Ale Conner.
1883. G. B. Goode, Fish. Industr. U.S.A. (Fisheries Exhib.), 66. To enforce these laws would, however, render necessary a large force of fish-wardens.
1894. Daily News, 7 Feb., 6/4. The duties hitherto carried out by barrack-masters are in future to be performed by pensioned non-commissioned officers of the army, who, on appointment, will be termed ‘barrack wardens.’
1898. Westm. Gaz., 30 Sept., 3/1. The State ‘game wardens.’
1912. Nature, 26 Dec., 468/2. Major J. Stevenson-Hamilton, Game Warden of the Transvaal.
† 8. A custodian of a building, esp. a temple or church. Obs.
c. 1290. Brendan, 626, in S. E. Leg., 237. In þe Abbeye of seint paterich, Monek ich was, i wis And of is churche a wardein.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 1566. Of þe cherche þe wardeynys alle were waked oute of here slepe.
1483. Caxton, Golden Leg., 265/1. A wardeyn of the hows of god.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. xxii. 141. The good Herald … is a Warden of the temple of Honour.
† b. The dean of a cathedral or collegiate church, or of a royal chapel. Obs.
1429. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 346. John Arundell, Dean or Wardein of the Chapelle Roiall of Seint George,… Windsor. Ibid. The saide Wardein is named and wretyn Dean; also … Wardeins therof have usually be called Deans.
1538. Fitzherb., Just. Peas, 121 b. Al … wardens of cathedrall and collegiate Churches.
9. = CHURCHWARDEN 1. There are regularly two, the rector’s (or vicar’s) warden and the parish (or people’s) warden.
1439. E. E. Wills (1882), 114. The wardeyns of Seynt Austyns chirch.
1461. Rolls of Parlt., V. 475/1. Late Wardeyns of the goodes of the seid Chirch.
1547. Edw. VI., Injunct., § 13 b ij b. The Wardeynes of euery paryshe churche or Chapel.
1589. R. Harvey, Pl. Perc., Ded. p. iv. I will present you at the law day for a ryot, though I be neither side man for this Meridian, nor Warden.
1853. Marsden, Early Puritans, 105. The minister and wardens undertook to go from house to house to take the names of the communicants.
1914. Contemp. Rev., March, 352. Rival candidates for the office of the people’s warden.
b. transf. Applied to an official with similar functions of a Jewish synagogue.
1879. F. Hitchman, Public Life Earl of Beaconsfield, I. i. 15. The quarrel with the Wardens of the Synagogue was a more serious matter.
1910. Monypenny, Life B. Disraeli, I. iii. 22. In 1813 he was for some pedantic reason elected Parnass or Warden of the Congregation of Bevis Marks.
10. In the titles of officers holding positions of trust under the Crown.
† a. Warden of the Forest: see quot. 1706. Obs.
1598. Manwood, Laws of Forest, viii. 43. Hereupon the Lord chiefe Iustice of the Forrest … will cause a writ of Ad quod dampnum to be directed to the chiefe warden of the Forrest.
c. 1600. Rolls of Parlt., II. 376/2. Wardens of Forrests shall be commanded to keep their Officers from extorting.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Keeper of the Forest, otherwise called Chief Warden of the Forest, is he that has the principal Government of all things belonging to the Forest, and the Check of all the other Officers.
1797. H. Rooke, Descr. Gt. Oak Salcey Forest, 5. The Forest is under the Government of the following Officers:—A Warden, or Master Forester,… Lieut. or Deputy Warden [etc.].
b. (Lord) Warden of the Cinque Ports: see CINQUE PORT.
1435. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 489/2. Constable of the Castell of Dovorr, and Wardeyn of fyve Portz.
1544. in Rymer, Foedera (1719), XV. 55. The Lorde Warden of the Fyve Ports.
1617. Moryson, Itin., III. 138. William the Norman Conquerour … instituted a Warden of the five Ports, Hastings, Dover, Hith, Rumney and Sandwiche.
1643. Proc. late Treaty of Peace, 56. Such a Noble Person as your Majesty shall appoint to be Warden of the Cinque-Ports.
1844. Queen’s Regul. Army, 46. The Lord-Warden of the Cinque Ports is to be saluted by the forts within his jurisdiction with the number of guns specified.
fig. (allusively.) 1616. T. Scot, Philomythie, B 3. Supposing Ibis their trustie warden, had beene closing The lands strong Ports. Ibid., B 3 b. Make not your will warden of your Cinque Ports [i.e., the five senses].
c. Warden of the Mint: until 1823 the title of the chief officer of the Mint.
1463. Irish Act 3 Edw. IV., c. 32. We … have Ordeyned and made … Germyn lynche … Wardeyne and Maister worker of oure moneis and coignes.
1587. Reg. Privy Council Scot., IV. 220. The generall, wardane, countare wardane, sinkare and assayare,… of his Majesteis cunyiehous.
1670. Pettus, Fodinæ Reg., 41. The Warden [of the mint] … is by his Office to receive the Silver from the Goldsmiths.
1688. Lond. Gaz., No. 2368/4. Owen Wynne Esq; Warden of the Mint.
d. (Lord) Warden of the Stannaries: an officer appointed by the Duke of Cornwall to preside over the mining parliaments of Cornwall.
1485. [see STANNARY 1].
1761. Brit. Mag., II. 10. He served the king in the different offices of lord warden of the Stannaries, lord admiral of England and Ireland.
1812. Morn. Chron., in Examiner, 28 Sept., 623/1. The new Lord Warden [of the Stannaries] has not been idle.
1814. Moore, Hor. Ode, II. xi. 19. Then, why, my Lord Warden! oh! why should you fidget Your mind about matters you don’t understand?
1896. Law Times, CI. 534/2. By the Judicature Acts the jurisdiction of the Lord Warden was transferred to the Court of Appeal.
† e. In the titles of various offices of the royal household or the courts of law. (Mainly as the rendering of AF. gardein.) Obs.
1543. trans. Act 51 Hen. III., Stat. Excheq., The wardeyne of the kynges wardrobe.
1543. trans. Act 1 Edw. IV., c. 1. Warden of the rolles of his chauncerie. Ibid. The … warden of his armour in the towre of London. Ibid. In thoffice of his priue seale, clerke or warden of his hamper of his sayde chauncery. Ibid. The … warden of the kynges wryttes … of his common benche.
1601. Tate, Househ. Ord. Edw. II. (1876), 9. The clarke which shalbe warden or keper of the privy seale. Ibid., 18. The kinge shal have a squier surveiour and warden of the viandes for his mouth. Ibid., 39. And a serjant herberjour, warden of the kinges palfreis.
[1892. Stevenson, In South Seas, IV. iii. (1908), 294. These were keybearers, treasurers, wardens of the armoury, the napery and the stores.]
f. Warden of the Standards: an officer of the Board of Trade having the custody of the standards of weight and measure.
1878. Act 41 & 42 Vict., c. 49 § 1.
11. The title given to the head or presiding officer of certain colleges and schools, hospitals, etc.
Usually = L. custos.
1575–6. Act 18 Eliz., c. 6 § 1. No Provoste Warden or other Hed Officer of the saide Colledges of Winchester or Eaton.
1587. Lady F. Cobham, in Collect. (O.H.S.), I. 193. Warden of Al Soules Colledge.
1632. Marmion, Hollands Leaguer, I. ii. B 4 b. I’ll … talke as superciliously, and walke As stately, as the Warden of a colledge.
1763. Brit. Mag., IV. 612. Dr. Golding, Warden of Winchester College.
1782. Pennant, Journ. Chester to Lond. 305. St Thomas’s hospital [Northampton] … Originally it maintained twelve poor people…. It is governed by a warden, who is one of the aldermen.
1845. New Statist. Acc. Scot., XII. 988. An hospital or alms-house … founded in 1272 … for maintaining a warden, six chaplains, and thirteen poor husbandmen of Buchan.
1855. A. Trollope, Warden, i. John Hiram … also appointed that an almshouse should be built for their abode, with a fitting residence for a warden.
1908. Act 8 Edw. VII., c. 20 Sched. § 2. From the time at which … a chancellor shall be appointed, the office of warden of the University [of Durham] shall cease.
† b. The superior of a Franciscan convent. Cf. GUARDIAN 4. Obs.
1420. E. E. Wills (1882), 47. Þe wardeyn and þe Couente.
1455. Linc. Diocese Docum. (1914), 76. The Wardeyn and the Covent of the gray frerys of Oxford.
1588. Exchequer Rolls Scot., XXI. 407. To Freir Charles Home, sumtym varden of the cordeleris of Drumfreis.
12. An officer to whose custody prisoners are committed; the governor of a prison, esp. in the old title Warden of the Fleet (Prison).
13[?]. Sir Beues (A.), 3708. Þo Ascopard wiþ outen dwelling In to þat castel gan hire bring,… And halt a ȝer a was hire wardaine.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 13112. Þe kyng dide his prisons loke Wiþ wardeyns þat hem vndertoke.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 13847. Thus he keppit hym full cloise, & in care held, þat no whe to hym wan but wardens full sure.
1429. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 346/1. The Keper and Wardeyn of the same Prisone.
1535. Lyndesay, Satyre, 3986. The widdifow wairdanis tuke my geir.
1543. trans. Act 1 Rich. II., c. 12. From hensforth no wardeyn of the Flete shall suffre any prysoner there … to goo out of prysone by maynpryse, bayle, [etc.].
1751. Smollett, Per. Pickle, xcviii. (1779), IV. 281. He intreated the warden to accomodate him with a lodging.
1827. Statutes of Connecticut (1854), 726. The warden shall have the entire control and management of said prison.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xxiii. My Lord High Constable,… Since I am to lie in ward, I could not have desired a kinder or more courteous warden.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., xli. The room where you’re a-going to sleep to-night is the warden’s room.
1889. George Kennan, in Century Mag., Feb., 506/1. As we entered the main corridor [of a prison] the officer of the day sprung hastily to the door, saluted the warden [etc.].
13. A member of a committee (of two or more persons) appointed to take charge of the repair and make regulations for the use of a bridge, a highway, etc. Cf. WAYWARDEN.
1486. Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1905), 13. To haue & to hold to the wardeyns of the said Brigge [sc. London Bridge].
1575–6. Act 18 Eliz., c. 17 § 1. To make an Election of Twoo persons of the same Comminaltie to be the Wardens of the saide Rochester Bridge.
1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., V. xxv. 550. A later reform has entrusted the care of the highways … to Boards of Wardens.
† 14. At Coventry, the title of two officers, chosen annually, charged with the collection of municipal rents. Obs.
1422–1507. Cov. Leet. Bk. 22, 58, etc.
15. U.S. (and earlier in colonial use). a. The officer who presides at ward-meetings or elections.
1763. J. Adams, Diary, Feb., Wks. 1850, II. 144. Boston … The Caucus Club meets, at certain times…. There they choose a moderator … and selectmen, assessors, collectors, wardens, fire-wards, and representatives, are regularly chosen before they are chosen in the town.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 678. Charleston was … divided into 13 wards, which choose as many wardens, from among whom the citizens elect an Intendant of the city. The Intendant and wardens form the city council.
1813. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1830), IV. 229. A general call of ward-meetings by their wardens on the same day through the State.
1822. Charter of Boston, Mass., § 3. It shall be the duty of such warden to preside at all meetings of the citizens of such ward.
b. ‘In Connecticut boroughs, the chief executive officer of the municipal government; in a few Rhode Island towns, a judicial officer. In colonial times the name was sometimes used instead of fire-warden or fire-ward’ (Century Dict.).
1842. Statutes of Connecticut (1854), 87. All persons who shall be engineers or wardens of any fire department.
16. Canada. The head of a county council.
1873. Rev. Statutes Ontario (1877), II. 1606. The Council of every County shall consist of the Reeves and Deputy Reeves of the Townships and Villages within the County … and one of the Reeves or Deputy Reeves shall be the Warden.
1886. Bourniot, Local Govt. Canada, 73. [In the province of Quebec] The county council is composed of the mayors of the several local municipalities of the county…. The warden is chosen by the county council.
17. Australia. The government official, with magisterial powers, in charge of a goldfield.
1861. Mrs. Meredith, Over the Straits, iv. 141. The chief official in a digging settlement … is entitled the Warden.
18. attrib. and Comb., as warden-angel (rare); also ‘of or pertaining to the warden-courts,’ as † warden-book, † clerk, † -fee; wardon-raid, nonce-use, a raid commanded by the Warden of the Marches in person. Also WARDEN-COURT.
1839. Bailey, Festus, xx. (1848), 246. The sweet offices Of *warden-angel.
1583. Reg. Privy Council Scot., III. 584. He findand … souirties actit in the *warden buikis to be answerable for all attemptatis. Ibid. (1584), 726. Robert Menteith, sumtyme his *wardane clerk.
1531. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., VI. 47. Item, to the lord Huym, wardane off the eist marchis, for his *wardane fee, de anno, etc. xxxjo, jcli.
1564. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 278. That the said Lord Home, wardane foirsaid, have payment of his wardane fee.
1805. Scott, Last Minstrel, IV. iv. ‘And by my faith,’ the gateward said, ‘I think ’twill prove a *Warden-Raid.’
