rearguard

rearguard [ˈrɪəˌgɑːd]

n

1. (Military) a detachment detailed to protect the rear of a military formation, esp in retreat

2. an entrenched or conservative element, as in a political party

rearguard action

a.  an action fought by a rearguard

b.  a defensive action undertaken to try to stop something happening or continuing

[from Old French rereguarde (modern French arrière-garde), from rer, from Latin retro back + guarde guard; compare vanguard]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

rearguard - a detachment assigned to protect the rear of a (retreating) military body armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker" detachment - a small unit of troops of special composition

Translations

rearguard [ˈrɪəgɑːd]

A. N (Mil) → retaguardia f

B. CPD rearguard action N → combate m para cubrir una retirada
to fight a rearguard action (fig) → resistir en lo posible

rearguard [ˈrɪə^rgɑː^rd] n (MILITARY) → arrière-garde f
rearguard action n (MILITARY) → combat m d'arrière-garde
to fight a rearguard action (MILITARY) → mener un combat d'arrière-garde (fig) → mener un combat d'arrière-garde

rearguard [ˈrɪəgɑːd] n (Mil) → retroguardia

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rearguard [ˈrɪəgɑːd] n (Mil) → retroguardia