rear guard: Meaning and Definition of

rear' guard'

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. a part of an army or military force detached from the main body to bring up and guard the rear from surprise attack, esp. in a retreat.

rear•guard

Pronunciation: (rēr'gärd"), [key]
— adj.
  1. of or pertaining to a rear guard.
  2. designed to oppose or prevent in a defensive way: a rearguard strategy.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also: