custos (noun Comm) : root sku-, to cover, hide, etc.; cf. scutum, κεύθω, Germ. Haut, Haus, Corss. Ausspr. I. p. 353
* A guard, watch, preserver, keeper, overseer, protector, defender, attendant, etc., protectress, etc., in a friendly or hostile sense (freq. and class.).
* In gen.
* Of living beings.
* In a hostile sense.
* Of inanimate subjects.
* Of abstract subjects: natura Ipsaque corporis est custos et causa salutis,Lucr. 3, 324: haec custos dignitatis (fortitudo),Cic. Tusc. 2, 14, 33: sapientia custos et procuratrix totius hominis,id. Fin. 4, 7, 17; id. Off. 2, 7, 23: leges diligentissimae pudoris custodes,Quint. 8, 5, 19 al.
* Of receptacles, safes, e. g. of a quiver: eburnea Telorum custos,Ov. M. 8, 320; of an incense-box: turis,id. ib. 13, 703; and in husbandry, the stump of an amputated vine-branch, i. q. resex, pollex, praesidiarius or subsidiarius palmes, Col. 4, 21, 3.
* In gen., a watch, spy: Dumnorigi custodes ponit, ut, quae agat, quibuscum loquatur, scire possit,Caes. B. G. 1, 20 fin.: custodem, inquit, Tullio me apponite. Quid, mihi quam multis custodibus opus erit, etc.,Cic. Div. in Caecil. 16, 51; Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 25, § 63; Caes. B. G. 1, 20 fin.: num nam hic relictu's custos, Nequis, etc.,Ter. Eun. 2, 2, 55; cf. v. 59; Curt. 5, 11, 2; Suet. Tib. 12 al.
* Esp., a jailer, keeper: carceris,Plaut. Mil. 2, 2, 57; Nep. Eum. 11, 1; id. Alcib. 4, 4: quem ex Mauritania rex proditionis insimulatum cum custodibus miserat,Sall. H. 2, 25 Dietsch: te sub custode tenebo,Hor. Ep. 1, 16, 77; Tac. A. 2, 68; 3, 28; 4, 60 al.

s. TLL