- safeguard (n.)
- early 15c., "protection, safety," from Middle French sauvegarde "safekeeping, safeguard" (13c.), from Old French salve, sauve (fem. of sauf; see safe) + garde "a keeping" (see guard). Meaning "something that offers security from danger" is recorded from late 15c. The verb is from late 15c. Related: Safeguarded; safeguarding.