▪ I. chaperon
(ˈʃæpərɒn, -ɔːn, -əʊn)
Also 6–7 chapperon, 7 chapron, chapperoon, shaparoon, shaparowne, shabbaron, 7–9 chaperoon.
[a. F. chaperon hood, a kind of dim. deriv. of chape cope, cape (cf. moucheron gnat, f. mouche fly); also used in sense 3 (in which English writers often erroneously spell it chaperone, app. under the supposition that it requires a fem. termination).]
† 1. A hood or cap formerly worn by nobles, and. after the 16th c., by ladies. Obs. exc. Hist.
(Cotgr. (1611) has ‘Chaperon, a hood, or French hood (for a woman); also any hood, bonnet, or lettice cap.)
| c 1380 Wyclif Rule St. Francis Wks. (1880) 40 Cloþis of probacion, þat is to seie tweie cotis or kirtlis wiþ-outen hood and a girdil & a brech & a chaperon to þe girdel. a 1552 Leland Brit. Coll. (1774) II. 468 The Quenes Party..causid his Chaperon and also Baldokes to be taken of, and to have on theyr Heddes Chapelettes of poignante Netles. 1605 Verstegan Dec. Intell. iii. (1634) 71 The reason of her chapron with long eares. 1610 J. Guillim Heraldry ii. iv. (1660) 56 The more resemblance of a Chaperon or Hood. 1619 Irish Hobbob in Rich's Honest. Age (1844) Pref. 22 If she be not suted in her Shaparowne. 1620 Dekker Dreame (1860) 36 Gay gawdy women..tricking vp their fronts with chaperoones And powdred haire. 1623 Favine Theat. Hon. x. iii. 432 Their White Hoods or Chapperons. a 1700 Songs Costume (1849) 200 Her shabbarons next I'll show. 1813 Hogg Queen's Wake 295 To thee, who..rear'st thy proud and thy pale chaperoon..God of the western wind, God of the shower. 1830 James Darnley xxxiv. 150 Deep in the mysteries..of chaperons and fraises. 1834 J. R. Planché Brit. Costume 157 Hats, caps, and high bonnets are worn as well as chaperons [temp. Rich. II]. |
† b. part of the full dress of Knights of the Garter.
| 1577 Harrison England ii. v. (1877) i. 116 He [Edw. III]..inuented this societie of honour..giuing them [Knights of the Garter]..a kirtle, gown, cloke, chaperon, collar, and other solemne and magnificent apparell. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. iii. ix. §33 Their Purple Mantle, their Gown, Kirtle, Chaperon, and chiefly their Garter. 1696 Phillips, Chaperon, the Hood anciently worn by the Knights of the Garter, being part of the Habit of that Order. |
† 2. A small escutcheon placed (esp.) on the forehead of a horse drawing a hearse. Obs.
| 1680 Lond. Gaz. No. 1487/4, 6 silver Forks marked with a Spread-Eagle upon a Chapperoon. 1696 Phillips, Chaperon..a little Escutcheon fix'd in the forehead of the Horses that draw the Hearse at a Funeral. 1768 Bristol Jrnl. Oct., A chaperon with the auntient Arms of Brystowe fastende on his Forehead. 1783 R. Turner Arts & Sc. (1821) 297 Little shields, drawn on hearses at pompous funerals, are called chaperonnes. |
3. fig. A person, esp. a married or elderly woman, who, for the sake of propriety, accompanies a young unmarried lady in public, as guide and protector.
[See quot. 1864; the same explanation is given by Littré.]
| 1720 Mrs. Delany Autobiog. I. 66 She..begged I would be her chaperone when she went to public places. 1771 Mrs. Harris in Priv. Lett. 1st Ld. Malmesbury I. 219, I was at the Oratorio Wednesday, in character of chaperon. 1800 M. Edgeworth Belinda (1832) I. i. 15 A perfectly fit chaperon for any young lady to appear with in public. 1864 N. & Q. Ser. iii. V. 280/2 Chaperon..when used metaphorically means that the experienced married woman shelters the youthful débutante as a hood shelters the face. 1866 Sat. Rev. 13 Jan. 49/1 Chaperones often painfully contrast with their fair protégées. 1880 Disraeli Endym. lxxxviii. 410 He delivered his charge to her chaperon. |
b. transf. One who escorts; guide, conductor.
| 1874 R. Tyrwhitt Sk. Club 189 The Præses made a capital chaperon. |
Hence chaperonee, a young lady who is chaperoned. ˈchaperonship, the office of a chaperon. (Colloq. and Newspr. words.)
| 1884 Pall Mall G. 27 May 4 Success will..attend the chaperon's efforts, however unattractive the chaperonee. |
▪ II. chaperon, v.
(ˈʃæpərɒn)
[f. prec. n. (The F. deriv. vb. (in different sense) is chaperonner.)]
trans. To act as chaperon to (a young lady); to escort. Hence ˈchaperoning vbl. n. and ppl. a.
| 1796 Jane Austen Sense & Sens. xx, I shall be very happy to chaperon you at any time. 1818 Todd, To chaperon, an affected word, of very recent introduction..to denote a gentleman attending a lady in a publick assembly. 1822 Blackw. Mag. XII. 69 Chaperoning matrons talk right solemnly of heat. a 1847 Mrs. Sherwood Lady of Manor IV. xxiv. 145, I chaproned her Sunday-school children in and out of church. 1865 Morning Star 4 Oct., Had I the uncontrolled chaperoning of an intelligent sight-seer. |