n. & v. (also chaperone)
--n.
1. a person, esp. an older woman, who ensures propriety by accompanying a young unmarried woman on social occasions.
2 a person who takes charge of esp. young people in public.
--v.tr. act as a chaperon to.
Derivatives:
chaperonage n.
Etymology: F, hood, chaperon, dimin. of chape cope, formed as CAP