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]