Other forms: protectors
A protector is somebody or something that keeps another from harm. A fierce protector, a screen protector, protector of the realm.
The object goes in front for equipment: screen protector, ear protectors, mattress protector. Of a person it means somebody who shields another, and it is warm. Lord Protector was the title Oliver Cromwell held, and protector was also the title of a regent ruling for a child king. Note protect, protection, protective; and protection racket, which uses the word with heavy irony.
1nounprotectorSomebody who keeps another from harm.
“The big dog saw himself as the children's protector and followed them everywhere.”
2noundeviceA device that shields something.
“The screen protector cracked and the screen did not.”
protector is a shielding person or thing.
Latin protector comes from protegere — pro-, in front, plus tegere, to cover, the same verb as in detect and toga. A protector is somebody who covers you from the front.
Latin
prōtēctor
Anglo-Norman
protectour
Middle English
protectour
English, today
protector
Built from
From Middle English protectour, from Anglo-Norman protectour, protector and its etymon Latin prōtēctor, from prōtegō (“shield, protect”). by surface analysis, protect + -or. Displaced native sċildend.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA