From Proto-Albanian*garda, from Proto-Indo-European*gʰórdʰos, close to Old Norse garðr, Latin hortus, Lithuanian gar̃das; plural gjerdh from *gʰórdʰoi. Toponym Zgërdhesh, based on 'gardh' ( first recorded historical settlement of Albanians ), suggests an ancient meaning of 'village', 'settlement', 'city' similar to Slavic* grad 'city, fortress' and Germanic *gardaz 'id.'. Compare also the related Romanian gard(“fence”).