custody

English

Etymology

From Latin custodia (“a keeping, watch, guard, prison”), from custos (“a keeper, watchman, guard”).

Pronunciation

Noun

custody (usually uncountable, plural custodies)

  1. The legal right to take care of something or somebody, especially children.
    The court awarded custody to the child's father.
  2. Temporary possession or care of somebody else's property.
    I couldn't pay the bill and now my passport is in custody of the hotel management.
  3. The state of being imprisoned or detained, usually pending a trial.
    He was mistreated while in police custody.

Derived terms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.

Further reading

  • custody in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • custody in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
  • custody at OneLook Dictionary Search
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