chaperone

[ shap-uh-rohn ]
/ ˈʃæp əˌroʊn /

noun, verb (used with or without object), chap·er·oned, chap·er·on·ing.

Definition for chaperone (2 of 2)

chaperon

or chap·er·one

[ shap-uh-rohn ]
/ ˈʃæp əˌroʊn /

noun

a person, usually a married or older woman, who, for propriety, accompanies a young unmarried woman in public or who attends a party of young unmarried men and women.
any adult present in order to maintain order or propriety at an activity of young people, as at a school dance.
a round headdress of stuffed cloth with wide cloth streamers that fall from the crown or are draped around it, worn in the 15th century.

verb (used with object)

to attend or accompany as chaperon.

verb (used without object)

to act as chaperon.

Origin of chaperon

1350–1400; Middle English < Anglo-French, Middle French: hood, cowl, equivalent to chape cape1 + -eron noun suffix; figurative sense < French (18th century)

OTHER WORDS FROM chaperon

chap·er·on·age [shap-uh-roh-nij] /ˈʃæp əˌroʊ nɪdʒ/, noun chap·er·on·less, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for chaperone

British Dictionary definitions for chaperone

chaperon

chaperone

/ (ˈʃæpəˌrəʊn) /

noun

(esp formerly) an older or married woman who accompanies or supervises a young unmarried woman on social occasions
someone who accompanies and supervises a group, esp of young people, usually when in public places

verb

to act as a chaperon to

Derived forms of chaperon

chaperonage (ˈʃæpərənɪdʒ), noun

Word Origin for chaperon

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