Ward"en (?), n. [OE. wardein, OF. wardein, gardein, gardain, F. gardien. See Guardian, and Ward guard.]
1.
A keeper; a guardian; a watchman.
He called to the warden on the . . . battlements.
Sir. W. Scott.
2.
An officer who keeps or guards; a keeper; as, the warden of a prison.
<-- chief officer of a prison. -->
3.
A head official; as, the warden of a college; specifically Eccl., a churchwarden.
4. [Properly, a keeping pear.]
A large, hard pear, chiefly used for baking and roasting.
[Obs.]
I would have had him roasted like a warden.
Beau. & Fl.
Warden pie, a pie made of warden pears. [Obs.]
Shak.
© Webster 1913.