noun
bodyguard; imperial guard
Historical term for a guard or bodyguard, especially in an imperial or noble context. In modern Japanese, ボディーガード is far more common for a personal bodyguard.
侍衛は天皇の身辺を守る役目を負っていた。
The imperial guard was responsible for protecting the emperor's person.
この小説では、主人公が貴族の侍衛として仕えている。
In this novel, the protagonist serves as a bodyguard for a noble.