[ward.er] n [ME, fr. AF wardere, fr. warde act of guarding, of Gmc origin; akin to OHG warta act of watching] (15c) 1: watchman, porter
2. Brit a: warden b: a prison guard
[2]war.der n [ME, staff, perh. fr. warden to ward] (ca. 1548): a truncheon used by a king or commander in chief to signal orders