National Guard
Preserved but no longer current.
Military forces raised in each State but partly trained, equipped and quartered by the U.S.A. Federal government. When called up by the President these forces become an integral part of the armed forces.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “National Guard” mean?
Military forces raised in each State but partly trained, equipped and quartered by the U.S.A. Federal government. When called up by the President these forces become an integral part of the armed forces.
Is “National Guard” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.