'Guardians of the poor' definitions:

Definition of 'Guardians of the poor'

From: GCIDE

Guardian \Guard"i*an\, n. [OF. guardain, gardien, F. gardien, LL. guardianus. See Guard, v. t., and cf. Wasden.]
1. One who guards, preserves, or secures; one to whom any person or thing is committed for protection, security, or preservation from injury; a warden. [1913 Webster]
2. (Law) One who has, or is entitled to, the custody of the person or property of an infant, a minor without living parents, or a person incapable of managing his own affairs. [1913 Webster]
Of the several species of guardians, the first are guardians by nature. -- viz., the father and (in some cases) the mother of the child. --Blackstone. [1913 Webster]
Guardian ad litem(Law), a guardian appointed by a court of justice to conduct a particular suit.
Guardians of the poor, the members of a board appointed or elected to care for the relief of the poor within a township, or district. [1913 Webster]