φυλακή φῠλᾰκή, ἡ, φυλάσσω a watching or guarding, watch, guard, ward, esp. by night, φυλακῆς μνήσασθε keep watch and ward, Il.; so, φυλακὰς ἔχειν Il.; ὅπως ἀφανὴς εἴη ἡ φ. that there might be nothing visible to watch, Thuc.; φυλακὴν φυλάττειν to keep watch, Xen.; τὰς φ. ποιεῖσθαι Xen.; φυλακὰς καταστήσασθαι to set watches, Ar. a watch or guard, of persons, Plat., Xen., etc.; ἡ τοῦ σώματος φ. a body guard, Dem.:— a guard or garrison, Hdt.; ἡ ἐν τῇ Ναυπάκτῳ φ., of a squadron of ships, Thuc. of place, a watch, station, post, Il., Xen. of time, a watch of the night, Hdt., Eur., etc. a place for keeping others in, a ward, prison, Anth., NTest. a watching, guarding, keeping, preserving, whether for security or custody, ἔχειν ἐν φυλακῇ τινά to keep guarded or occupied, Hdt.; τὸν τῆς γλώσσης χαρακτῆρα ἐν φυλακῇ ἔχειν to preserve the same character of language, Hdt.; so, διὰ φυλακῆς ἔχειν or ποιεῖσθαί τι, Thuc.:—also, φυλακὴν ἔχειν, φυλάττεσθαι, to keep guard, be on the watch, περί τινα Hdt.; ἦσαν ἐν φυλακῇσι were on their guard, Hdt. guardianship, Arist. a safe-guard, Isocr. (from Mid.) precaution, Plat.