hayward

noun — 2 senses

hayward

nounalso spelled Hayward

/ˈheɪwəɹd/

Etymology From hay + ward.

1

Historical One whose occupation involved overseeing the sowing and harvesting of crops as well as protecting the crops from stray people or animals.

[…] it was held that this was not indictable, for till the horse got to the pound the hayward was merely acting as the servant of the owner of the land […]1877, William Oldnall Russell, Charles Sprengel Greaves, George Sharswood, A Treatise on Crimes and Misdemeanors, page 571:
The hayward at the same place had an acre of the lord's corn in autumn, always in a certain part of the field.1881, The Antiquary, volume III, page 255:

1 more example

A horn, such as our man wears, was always worn by a hayward, who used to blow it to warn off people from straying in the crops.1890, Jean Jules Jusserand, English Wayfaring Life in the Middle Ages, page 24:

Derived terms: Haywards Heath

Hayward

noun

/ˈheɪwə(ɹ)d/

Etymology From hayward.

1

A kiwifruit variety.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — authors: page histories for hayward and Hayward.