custody

 
Pronunciation: /ˈkʌstədi/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1the protective care or guardianship of someone or something: the property was placed in the custody of a trustee
  • Law parental responsibility, especially as allocated to one of two divorcing parents: he was trying to get custody of their child
  • 2imprisonment: my father was being taken into custody

Derivatives

custodial

Pronunciation: /kʌˈstəʊdɪəl/
adjective

Origin:

late Middle English: from Latin custodia, from custos 'guardian'