‖ guarda-|ˈgwarda|stem of It.guardare and Sp.guardar to guard, used in several combinations (Obs.exc.Hist.), as ‖ ˌguarda-caˈballo, a guard in charge of horses; ‖ ˌguarda-ˈdamas, duenna of the Queen's maids-in-waiting; ‖ ˈguard(a)-inˈfante, a farthingale or hoop; ‖ ˌguarda-ˈroba= wardrobe. See also guarda-costa.1808Pike Sources Mississ. iii. (1810) 256 We..came..to a horse range of the marquis's, where he had four of his soldiers as a *guarda caballo.1662Evelyn Diary 2 June, Now saw I her Portuguese ladies, and the *Guarda-damas, or Mother of her Maids.Ibid. 30 May, A traine of Portuguese ladies in their monstrous fardingals or *guard-infantas.1670R. Lassels Voy. Italy i. 96, I found all the great Ladies here to go like the Donnas of Spain, in Guardinfantas, that is, in horrible overgrown Fartingals of whalebone.1602Archpriest. Controv. (Camden) II. 28 His *guarda robe had none but riche ones.1612in Crt. & Times Jas. I (1848) I. 183 Having withdrawn himself into his guarda roba.1823Lady Morgan Salvator Rosa I. ii. 46 Vesuvius blazed over the faded frescoes of the dilapidated guarda-roba.