chaperon

British  

/ ˈʃæpərənɪdʒ, ˈʃæpəˌrəʊn /

noun

1. (esp formerly) an older or married woman who accompanies or supervises a young unmarried woman on social occasions

2. someone who accompanies and supervises a group, esp of young people, usually when in public places

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verb

1. to act as a chaperon to

Other Word Forms

• chaperonage noun

Etymology

Origin of chaperon

C14: from Old French, from chape hood, protective covering; see _cap

Example Sentences

The three girls aged 13, 10, and 9 arrived early in the morning Thursday, were detained and barred entry into the country along with their cousin chaperon who immigration authorities deemed “inadmissible.”

From Slate • Jul. 19, 2019

At the outset, the company plans on offering fully autonomous rides, with a Waymo employee in the car only as a chaperon.

From The Verge • Aug. 21, 2018

Covina police said the minors, reported by KTLA-TV to be part of a tourist group from China, opened the door for him thinking he was their chaperon.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2018

“Alice in the Cities” tells the delightful and charming story of a German journalist who tours the United States and meets a woman who asks him to chaperon her 9-year-old daughter back to Europe.

From Washington Post • Mar. 2, 2017

Since both the crate and the cushion were very narrow, we were sitting quite close, leaning against two other crates; Mouschi kept us company, so we weren’t without a chaperon.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank