the act of keeping safe or guarding, esp the right of guardianship of a minor
2.
the state of being held by the police; arrest (esp in the phrases in custody, take into custody)
Derived forms
custodial (kʌˈstəʊdɪəl)
adjective
Word origin
C15: from Latin custōdia, from custōs guard, defender
All related terms of 'custodies'
custody
Custody is the legal right to keep and look after a child , especially the right given to a child's mother or father when they get divorced .
child custody
Law custody (sense 4 )
joint custody
Custody is the legal right to keep and look after a child, especially the right given to a child's mother or father when they get divorced .
police custody
If somebody or something is in police custody , they are kept somewhere secure , under the supervision of police officers , for example in a police station .
sole custody
Custody is the legal right to keep and look after a child, especially the right given to a child's mother or father when they get divorced .
youth custody
(in Britain ) a sentence of from four to eighteen months ' detention passed on a person aged 15 to 21
protective custody
If a witness in a court case is being held in protective custody , they are being kept in prison in order to prevent them from being harmed.