n. (fem. protectress)
1. a a person who protects. b a guardian or patron.
2 hist. a regent in charge of a kingdom during the minority, absence, etc. of the sovereign.
3 (often in comb.) a thing or device that protects (chest-protector).
4 (Protector) (in full Lord Protector of the Commonwealth) hist. the title of Oliver Cromwell 1653-58 and his son Richard Cromwell 1658-59.
Derivatives:
protectoral adj. protectorship n.
Etymology: ME f. OF protecteur f. LL protector (as PROTECT)