Also 6–7 -gard(e, 7 contre-gard(e. [ad. F. contregarde (15th c.): see COUNTER- 8, 13.]
† 1. An extra guard to check another guard, or to be a reserve defence. Obs.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cccxix. 493. The constable, for doute of his men, sent out another company of men of armes, to be a countergarde to the foragers that were gone before for the engyn.
1651. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., II. xxvi. (1739), 116. As if he had obtained a general Pass from Providence, with warranty against all Counter-guards whatever.
2. Fortif. ‘A narrow detached rampart, placed immediately in front of an important work, to protect it from being breached’ (Stocqueler).
1591. Garrard, Art Warre, 312. This masse of earth being placed as I have said, may be named a Countergarde.
1695. Lond. Gaz., No. 3100/3. The Contregard of a half Bastion called St. Roque.
1762. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, VI. xxvii. The counterguard which faced the counterscarp.
1839. Sir W. F. Napier, Penins. War, XVI. v. Counterguards for the bastions.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 138/1. Counterguards are outworks whose primary object is to screen the escarps of the ravelins and enceinte from being breached.
3. Part of a sword-hilt.
1874. Boutell, Arms & Arm., ix. 173. In addition to these primaries … of the hilt, the pommel, barrel, and cross-guard, our model sword in its hilt has also a guard and a counter-guard (garde and contre-garde)—that is, it has on each side of the barrel, or fusée, and perpendicular to its axis, a plate of metal, flat or concave, plain or in open work.
