Escort
/ˈɛskɔːrt/noun
A person or group that accompanies and protects someone, or the act of accompanying them.
Did you know?Escort entered English through French from Italian *scortare*, originally meaning to accompany or convoy a person or group for protection, not romance.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
cohors
“An enclosed yard or retinue; a company of attendants or soldiers.”
Late Latin
Latin
excortare
“To accompany or convoy (source form debated in scholarship, via Italian development).”
Italian
Italian
scortare
“To escort, accompany, or convoy for protection.”
16th Century
French
escorte
“A convoy or guard accompanying someone for safety.”
16th Century
English
escort
“An accompanying guard or convoy; later, a person who accompanies another.”