English

a lifeguard on duty at a beach

the lifeguard (circled) on a High Speed Train powercar

Alternative forms

• life-guard (dated)

Noun

lifeguard ‎(plural lifeguards)

1. A guard of the life or person; a guard that attends a prince or other person; a bodyguard.
2. (chiefly US) An attendant, usually an expert swimmer, employed to save swimmers in trouble or near drowning at a body of water.
3. A lifesaver.
4. (rail transport) A sturdy metal bracket fixed in front of each of the leading wheels of a train to deflect small objects away from the wheels to prevent derailment.

Translations

References

1. ↑ https://books.google.be/books?id=4Wq-AAAAQBAJ&lpg=PA45&dq=etymology&hl=nl&pg=PA50#v=onepage&q=lijfgarde&f=false