escort

 

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɛskɔːt/
  • a person, vehicle, or group accompanying another for protection or as a mark of rank: a police escort [mass noun]: he was driven away under armed escort
  • a man who accompanies a woman to a particular social event: Louise and her escort were given the best table
  • a person, typically a woman, who may be hired to accompany someone socially: [as modifier]: an escort agency
  • euphemistic a prostitute.

verb

Pronunciation: /ɪˈskɔːt, ɛ-/
[with object]
  • accompany (someone or something) somewhere as an escort: he escorted her back to her hotel

Origin:

late 16th century (originally denoting a body of armed men escorting travellers): from French escorte (noun), escorter (verb), from Italian scorta, feminine past participle of scorgere 'to conduct, guide', based on Latin ex- 'out of' + corrigere 'set right' (see correct)