Legal Definitions - guardage

Definition: Guardage is a historical term that refers to two things:

1. Wardship: the act of protecting or guarding something, especially a ship or cargo, from damage or theft.
2. Guardianship: the legal responsibility of taking care of someone or something, such as a minor or an estate.

Examples:

• The captain of the ship was responsible for the guardage of the cargo, ensuring that it arrived safely at its destination.
• After the death of her parents, the young girl was placed under the guardage of her uncle, who became her legal guardian.

These examples illustrate the two meanings of guardage. In the first example, guardage refers to the act of protecting something valuable, in this case, the cargo on a ship. In the second example, guardage refers to the legal responsibility of taking care of someone, in this case, a young girl who has lost her parents.