Chaperon

Definitions

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.
2. A type of hood, often ornamental or official, with an attached cape and a tail, later worn as a hat with the face hole put over the top of the head instead.
3. A device placed on the foreheads of horses which draw the hearse in pompous funerals.

Equivalents

Examples

“"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."”

“His head and face⟳ cover'd with a chaperon, out of which there are but two holes to look⟳ through.”

CEFR level