Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Protective \Pro*tect"ive\, a. [Cf. F. protectif.]
Affording protection; sheltering; defensive. " The favor of a
protective Providence." --Feltham.
[1913 Webster]
Protective coloring (Zool.), coloring which serves for the
concealment and preservation of a living organism. Cf.
Mimicry. --Wallace.
Protective tariff (Polit. Econ.), a tariff designed to
secure protection (see Protection, 4.), as distinguished
from a tariff designed to raise revenue. See Tariff, and
Protection, 4.
[1913 Webster]
protective
adj 1: intended or adapted to afford protection of some kind; "a
protective covering"; "the use of protective masks and
equipment"; "protective coatings"; "kept the drunken
sailor in protective custody"; "animals with protective
coloring"; "protective tariffs" [ant: unprotective]
2: showing care; "a protective mother"
3: (usually followed by `of') solicitously caring or mindful;
"protective of his reputation"