/ ˈwɔːdn; NAmE ˈwɔːrdn/ noun
1.
a person who is responsible for taking care of a particular place and making sure that the rules are obeyed :
a forest warden
( BrE )
the warden of a youth hostel
—see also churchwarden , dog warden , game warden , traffic warden
2.
( especially NAmE ) the person in charge of a prison
3.
(in Britain), a title given to the head of some colleges and institutions :
the Warden of Wadham College, Oxford
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (originally denoting a guardian or protector): from Anglo-Norman French and Old Northern French wardein , variant of Old French guarden guardian.