Guardroom

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɡɑɹdˌɹum/

Definitions

1. A space designed for the lodging and oversight of military guards while they perform their duties
2. A designated area within a military facility where guards assemble and rest during their shifts
3. A chamber assigned for the security personnel to gather and maintain watch duties

Etymology: A guardroom is about as transparent as compounds get: "guard" plus "room," with no hidden twist. The "guard" half comes from Old French "garder," meaning to watch over or protect, and it is the same root that gave English "warden" and "ward," which is why the word has a doubled history of sorts. The "room" half is the ordinary Old English "rūm," meaning space or an enclosed area. Put together, the word names the space where people on watch wait between their turns, a practical label for a practical place. It is a plain coinage of two everyday words, with nothing borrowed wholesale from another language.

Synonyms: sentry room, barracks, military quarters, security room, holding cell