warden

Etymology 1

From Middle English wardein, from Anglo-Norman wardein, Old Northern French wardein, from warder (“to guard”), variant of Old French guarder (“to guard”) (whence modern French garder, also English guard), from Proto-Germanic *ward-; related to Old High German wartēn (“to watch”). Compare guardian, French gardien, from Old French guardian, guardein. Compare also ward and reward. Doublet of guardian.

noun

1. (archaic or literary) A guard or watchman.
2. A chief administrative officer of a prison.
   The warden of the state prison, Ezekiel Purdy, was a kind man if stern. He invariably made all newcomers a little speech of welcome […] 1934, Nathanael West, “Chapter 7”, in A Cool Million
3. An official charged with supervisory duties or with the enforcement of specific laws or regulations; such as a game warden or air-raid warden.
4. A governing official in various institutions
   the warden of a college

verb

1. To carry out the duties of a warden.

Etymology 2

From Middle English wardon, origin uncertain; perhaps from Anglo-Norman or Anglo-Latin wardo, -ōnis.

noun

1. A variety of pear.
   Wardens, a name given to pears which never melt, are long keeping, and used for cooking only. The name comes from the Cistercian Abbey of Warden in Beds. Parkinson’s Warden is now Black Worcester. There are Spanish, White and Red Wardens. 1903, E. Bartrum, The Book of Pears and Plums, London: John Lane, page 30