Safety

Safety Safe"ty, n. [Cf. F. sauvet['e].] 1. The condition or state of being safe; freedom from danger or hazard; exemption from hurt, injury, or loss. [1913 Webster]

Up led by thee, Into the heaven I have presumed, An earthly guest . . . With like safety guided down, Return me to my native element. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. Freedom from whatever exposes one to danger or from liability to cause danger or harm; safeness; hence, the quality of making safe or secure, or of giving confidence, justifying trust, insuring against harm or loss, etc. [1913 Webster]

Would there were any safety in thy sex, That I might put a thousand sorrows off, And credit thy repentance! --Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster]

3. Preservation from escape; close custody. [1913 Webster]

Imprison him, . . . Deliver him to safety; and return. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. (Amer. Football) the act or result of a ball-carrier on the offensive team being tackled behind his own goal line, or the downing of a ball behind the offensive team's own goal line when it had been carried or propelled behind that goal line by a player on the offensive tream; such a play causes a score of two points to be awarded to the defensive team; -- it is distinguished from {touchback}, when the ball is downed behind the goal after being propelled there or last touched by a player of the defending team. See {Touchdown}. Same as {Safety touchdown}, below. [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]

5. Short for {Safety bicycle}. [archaic] [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

6. a switch on a firearm that locks the trigger and prevents the firearm from being discharged unintentionally; -- also called {safety catch}, {safety lock}, or {lock}. [archaic] [PJC]