English
chaperon
Chaperon comes from French chaperon ‘hood’, from Old French chape ‘cape’, and ultimately from Late Latin cappa ‘headwear, cap’.
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEcappa‘headwear, cap’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400chape‘cape’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentchaperon‘hood’
- Englishearliest quotation 1655chaperon
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEcappa‘headwear, cap’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400chape‘cape’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentchaperon‘hood’
- Englishearliest quotation 1655chaperon
Earliest quotation: 1655, James Howell, To the Right Honourable the Lord Mohun: “His head and face cover'd with a chaperon, out…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *kap- ‘head’
had, case, except, heavy, cash, accept, receive, catch, cable, heavily, capacity, behavior, capable, achieve, capture, reception, occupation, recipe, chase, recipient, haven, behave, anticipate, perception, susceptible, anticipation, hawk, captive, capsule, deception, cassette, captivity, deceive, caption, deceptive, cater, casket, deceit, conceive, chassis, 135 more
through Proto-Indo-European *káput ‘head’
through Proto-Italic *kaput ‘head’
capitalism, capitalize, capitan, capote, capitaine, 61 more
through Latin caput ‘head’
capital, captain, cattle, chef, chapter, capitol, capita, precipitation, cad, mischief, mischievous, precipitate, capillary, chieftain, occipital, caddie, precipitous, capo, capitulate, escapade, jefe, dishevelled, chattel, scamper, chabot, caput, cabochon, 68 more
through Late Latin cappa ‘headwear, cap’
escape, cabin, cape, cope, chaplain, cabana, capa, scamp, capuchin, kaput, 21 more
Today it means
noun 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.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Late Latin cappa / chaperon