home guard

a volunteer force used for meeting local emergencies when the regular armed forces are needed elsewhere.

Origin of home guard

First recorded in 1735–45

In other cases bands of Rebels scoured the country, went to the house of every Home-Guard, and took away his musket.

The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 09, No. 51, January, 1862 |Various
Maybe enlisting in the home-guard will prove a wise step for the first one.

Kathie's Soldiers |Amanda Minnie Douglas
They are of the more conservative "home-guard" element and characterized by the psychology of all factory workers.

The Centralia Conspiracy |Ralph Chaplin
What is it gives a cold in the head, cures a cold, pays the doctor's bill and makes the home-guard look for substitutes?

Our American Cousin |Tom Taylor

At this period the Home-guard organizations were disbanding, or being incorporated into the Federal army.

History of Morgan's Cavalry |Basil W. Duke

Home Guard

a volunteer part-time military force recruited for the defence of the United Kingdom in World War II

(in various countries) a civil defence and reserve militia organization