Lewis & Short

prō-tĕgo, xi, ctum, 3, v. a., to cover before or in front, to cover over, cover, protect (class.; syn.: defendo, tutor).

  1. I. Lit.: tabernacula protecta hederā, Caes. B. C. 3, 96: rates cratibus ac pluteis, id. ib. 1, 25 fin.: aedes, to furnish with a projecting roof, Cic. Top. 4, 24: hunc scutis protegunt hostes, to cover, protect, Caes. B. G. 5, 43: se umbone, Just. 33, 2, 4: caput contra solem, Plin. 31, 11, 47, § 131: scutis protecti corpora longis, Verg. A. 8, 662: protegendi corporis memor, Liv. 2, 6.
    1. B. In partic., to put up a shed, penthouse, or projecting roof (jurid. Lat.): hic in suo protexit, Dig. 9, 2, 29: jus proiciendi protegendive, ib. 8, 2, 1.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. To cover or shield from danger, to defend, protect (rare and class.): jacentem et spoliatum defendo et protego, Cic. Sull. 18, 50: ad protegendum regem, Liv. 42, 15: viros optimos, Plin. Ep. 3, 9, 36; Tac. A. 1, 13 fin.: aliquem adversus criminantes, id. H. 2, 60: causam, Juv. 11, 32: Dominus exercituum proteget eos, Vulg. Zach. 9, 15.
      1. 2. Transf., to ward off, keep off: hiemes, Stat. S. 3, 1, 121.
    2. B. To cover up, screen, conceal (very rare): nequitiam supercilio truci, Vell. 2, 100, 5: risu protectis insidiis, Just. 38, 1, 9: parricidii immunitatem metu majore, Quint. Decl. 8, 1.