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Webster 1913 Edition


Chaperon

Chap′er-on

,
Noun.
[F.
chaperon
. See
Chape
,
Cape
,
Cap
.]
1.
A hood; especially, an ornamental or an official hood.
His head and face covered with a
chaperon
, out of which there are but two holes to look through.
Howell.
2.
A device placed on the foreheads of horses which draw the hearse in pompous funerals.
3.
A matron who accompanies a young lady in public, for propriety, or as a guide and protector.

Chap′er-on

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Chaperoned
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Chaperoning
.]
[Cf. F.
chaperonner
, fr.
chaperon
.]
To attend in public places as a guide and protector; to matronize.
Fortunately Lady Bell Finley, whom I had promised to
chaperon
, sent to excuse herself.
Hannah More.

Webster 1828 Edition


Chaperon

CHAPERON

,
Noun.
A hood or cap worn by the knights of the garter in their habits. It was anciently worn by men, women, nobles and populace; afterwards appropriated to doctors and licentiates in colleges. The name then passed to certain devices placed on the foreheads of horses which drew the herse in pompous funerals.

Definition 2024


chaperon

chaperon

English

Alternative forms

Noun

chaperon (plural chaperons)

  1. An adult who accompanies or supervises one or more young, unmarried men or women during social occasions, usually with the specific intent of preventing some types of social or sexual interactions or illegal behavior.
    • 1908, E. M. Forster, I”, in A Room with a View:
      "I am, as it were," she concluded, "the chaperon of my young cousin, Lucy, and it would be a serious thing if I put her under an obligation to people of whom we know nothing. His manner was somewhat unfortunate. I hope I acted for the best."
  2. A hood, especially, an ornamental or official hood.
    • Howell
      His head and face covered with a chaperon, out of which there are but two holes to look through.
  3. A device placed on the foreheads of horses which draw the hearse in pompous funerals.

Translations

Verb

chaperon (third-person singular simple present chaperons, present participle chaperoning, simple past and past participle chaperoned)

  1. to accompany, to escort
  2. to mother

Translations

Anagrams


French

Etymology

From Old French, from chape (head covering) as the women who acted as chaperones wore head coverings. More at English cap, cape

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ʃa.pʁɔ̃/

Noun

chaperon m (plural chaperons)

  1. chaperon

Related terms


Old French

Etymology

From chape

Noun

chaperon m (oblique plural chaperons, nominative singular chaperons, nominative plural chaperon)

  1. a hairstyle popular in the Middle Ages
  2. headscarf for a woman
  3. (falconry) hood for a bird of prey
  4. type of sailing vessel