The person designated to see fair distribution of hay for village animals during the winter months. He also ensured no animal broke into a hay or corn field, or anywhere it should not be. For this reason he was also known as the 'hedge-ward', a corruption of OldEngl. hagweard. [< OldEngl. hag = meadow, hay; hege = hedge; weard = warden, ward] -
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.