escort

[noun es-kawrt; verb ih-skawrt]

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noun

a group of persons, or a single person, accompanying another or others for protection, guidance, or courtesy: An escort of sailors accompanied the queen.
an armed guard, as a body of soldiers or ships: The president traveled with a large escort of motorcycle police.
a man or boy who accompanies a woman or girl in public, as to a social event.

protection, safeguard, or guidance on a journey: to travel without escort.

verb (used with object)

to attend or accompany as an escort.

Origin of escort

1570–80; < French < Italian scorta, derivative of scorgere to conduct < Vulgar Latin *excorrigere. See ex-¹, correct

Related formsun·es·cort·ed, adjectivewell-es·cort·ed, adjective

Synonyms for escort

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4. convoy. 5. conduct, usher, squire, chaperon, take, guide.

Synonym study

5. See accompany.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for escort

entourage, bodyguard, convoy, attendant, companion, protect, accompany, bring, drag, usher, carry, guide, steer, gallant, protector, retinue, cortege, consort, chaperon, beau

Examples from the Web for escort

Contemporary Examples of escort

An escort who goes by the name of “Tommy” has experienced a wide variety of female clients.
Career-Minded Women Turn to Male Escorts For No-Strings Fun and (Maybe) Sex
Aurora Snow
January 3, 2015
The escort site Cowboys4Angels peddles chiseled, hot-bodied men and their smoldering model looks to women willing to pay.
Career-Minded Women Turn to Male Escorts For No-Strings Fun and (Maybe) Sex
Aurora Snow
January 3, 2015
And in an environment where time is money, hooking up with an escort just might be the sensible thing to do.
Career-Minded Women Turn to Male Escorts For No-Strings Fun and (Maybe) Sex
Aurora Snow
January 3, 2015
She then claimed that security guards approached her car saying Cosby told them to escort her home.
How Bill Cosby Allegedly Silenced His Accusers Through A Tabloid Smear Campaign
Marlow Stern
November 21, 2014
“Escort” sounds like I would need to look into service renewal.
What Should I Call the Man I Love?
Dushka Zapata
November 18, 2014

Historical Examples of escort

Did you not insist on going home with Hester Paine, when I had offered my escort?
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
"Your escort was accepted because you were the first to offer it," said Halbert.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
My place was at Hester Paine's side, since she had accepted my escort.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
And now, may I have the honor of asking you to accept the escort of Mr. Cassidy to our gallery.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
But I want to see this fight, and I won't get there if the colonel sends an escort.
In the Midst of Alarms
Robert Barr

British Dictionary definitions for escort

escort

noun (ˈɛskɔːt)

one or more persons, soldiers, vehicles, etc, accompanying another or others for protection, guidance, restraint, or as a mark of honour
a man or youth who accompanies a woman or girlhe was her escort for the evening
1. a person, esp a young woman, who may be hired to accompany another for entertainment, etc
2. (as modifier)an escort agency

verb (ɪsˈkɔːt)

(tr) to accompany or attend as an escort

Word Origin for escort

C16: from French escorte, from Italian scorta, from scorgere to guide, from Latin corrigere to straighten; see correct

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for escort

1570s, in military sense, from Middle French escorte (16c.), from Italian scorta, literally "a guiding," from scorgere "to guide," from Vulgar Latin *excorrigere, from ex- "out" (see ex-) + corrigere "set right" (see correct). The sense of "person accompanying another to a social occasion" is 1936.

1708, from escort (n.); social sense is from 1890. Related: Escorted; escorting.