† wardecorps Obs.
Forms: 4 wardecors, -corps, 5 ward(e) corce, wardcors(e, (wardecose, wardcorpse).
[a. AF. wardecors (recorded in sense 2; also latinized wardecosia, wordecorsum, etc.) = OF. gardecorps; f. OF. warde, f. warde-r = garder to guard (see guard, ward vbs.) + corps body.]
1. A body-guard; an armed personal attendant. Cf. garde-du-corps.
| a 1330 Otuel 1409 His wardecors a non he fond, & tok a spere out of his hond. c 1386 Chaucer Wife's Prol. 359 Thogh thou preye Argus with hise hundred eyen To be my wardecors. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) III. 389 Þerfore whan Phelip sat in þe feste of spousaille withoute wardecorses [L. sine custodibus: 1485 Caxton wardcorpses] Pausania, a noble ȝong man, slowȝ him riȝt þere. a 1450 Mirk's Festial 287 Kyng Darius made a questyon to þre of hys wardcorsis. |
2. An over-garment for out-door use.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 516/1 Warde corce, clothe (v. rr. wardecose, ward corscloth, wardcorce), tunica, tunicella. 1483 Cath. Angl. 408/1 Wardcorse, reno. |