Chaperon

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /ˈʃæ.pəˌɹoʊn/

Definitions

1. A responsible individual who supervises minors during social activities to ensure appropriate behavior
2. An individual who accompanies and oversees minors to maintain proper conduct during social gatherings
3. Someone assigned to watch over young attendees at occasions to ensure they behave suitably

Etymology: The guardian sense of "chaperon" grew out of a piece of clothing. In French, "chaperon" meant a hood, and in Old French it came from "chape," a cape or cloak, which is also the ancestor of "cape" itself. The hooded garment was the sort of thing worn by someone on a journey or in a public place, and over time the word came to describe the wearer's role as an escort or protector. The shift from garment to person is the surprising part. A hood covers the head and shelters what is beneath it, and that protective image carried over into the idea of a responsible adult who watches over a young person in company. English borrowed the word from French, and it has kept that protective sense ever since, now applied to both the role and the person filling it.

Synonyms: escort, guardian, protector, supervisor, watcher