From Irish Garda (“guardian”), from Irish Garda Síochána (“Guardian of the Peace”) and Garda Síochána na hÉireann (“Guardian of the Peace of Ireland”) after the model of the French Third Republic's civilian French gardiens de la paix, from Old French guarde, from guarder (“to guard”), from Frankish *wardēn, from Proto-Germanic *wardāną. Doublet of guard, guardian, and warden.