'proteger' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'protegere', where 'pro-' meant 'before' or 'in front of' and 'tegere' meant 'to cover'.

'proteger' changed from Latin 'protegere' through Old French 'protegier' and late Latin/Medieval Latin forms into the Spanish modern verb 'proteger'.

Initially, it meant 'to cover in front' (literally to place a cover before), but over time it evolved into the broader meaning 'to guard or defend', which is its current usage.