escort

Etymology

Borrowed from French escorte, itself borrowed from Italian scorta.

noun

1. A group of people or vehicles, generally armed, who go with a person or people of importance to safeguard them on a journey or mission.
   The soldier who was pulling at the other end was clumsily unhorsed, and I myself was all but thrown by the unexpected jerk. This ludicrous incident at first provoked mirth among my escort, a mirth which their superstitious minds immediately turned into an ill omen. 1898, Arnold Henry Savage Landor, chapter LXXXIII, in In the Forbidden Land
   Whole squadrons of cavalry escort had sometimes to be sent thundering against a powerful infantry outpost in order that the brief time between the charge and the inevitable retreat might be utilized in sounding a ford or determining the point of intersection of two roads. 1883, Ambrose Bierce, George Thurston
2. An accompanying person in such a group.
   The waves being so high when we and the escorts, which stayed about one quarter mile to each side and ahead of us, were in a trough at the same time and we were unable to see one another. 1980, Ernest L. Secrest, chapter 9, in My 1102 Days of W.W. II
3. A guard who travels with a dangerous person, such as a criminal, for the protection of others.
4. A group of people attending as a mark of respect or honor.
5. An accompanying person in a social gathering, etc.
   "He'd come in for something to eat—the red-bearded one. We had quite a chat. I told him we were traveling like Stevenson—with a donkey; but that one of the ladies had an abscess on a tooth and was going home. He said it was no place for women and offered himself as an escort." 1921, Mary Roberts Rinehart, chapter 5, in More Tish
6. Protection, care, or safeguard on a journey or excursion.
   I went home with Hester Paine, last evening, from writing school. Just as she had accepted my escort, Halbert came up, and in a condescending way, informed her that he would see her home. 1874, Horatio Alger, chapter 2, in Brave and Bold
7. (somewhat euphemistic) A sex worker who does not operate in a brothel, but with whom clients make appointments; a call girl or male equivalent.
   Of the 68 women, 26 reported that they had worked on the streets and as an escort over the course of their career as a prostitute, 18 exclusively as a street prostitute, and 8 as an escort only (i.e., working for an escort service). 2014, Jeffrey T. Parsons, Contemporary Research on Sex Work, page 87
   Every escort has at least one or two regular clients; they are our bread and butter. 2017, Samantha X, Back on Top: Confessions of a High-Class Escort, Hachette

verb

1. To attend to in order to guard and protect; to accompany as a safeguard (for the person escorted or for others); to give honorable or ceremonious attendance to
   He reported that the police escorted the children five or six blocks beyond Natural Bridge Avenue and at that point stopped the white children who were following and shooed them back to the park. 2009, Allen D. Grimshaw, A Social History of Racial Violence
   Lord Lyndsey, ever attentive, escorted his Lady to the carriage 1837, Mrs Chadwick, Novels of Nature
2. To accompany (a person) in order to compel them to go somewhere (e.g. to leave a building).
   At this point, the Tenant became extremely angry.... the Tenant started yelling even louder and charged at me. The Tenant was restrained by the security guard and escorted out of the hearing room. The Tenant was ultimately escorted out of the Board’s office because he continued his yelling and aggressive behaviour in the hallway and at the customer service desk. 2018, TST-00493-18 (Re), Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board (Anna Solomon, member)
   Three local yobs have also joined, but they have not reckoned on a redoubtable Conductor and two local revenue protection officers who soon escort them off the train! November 2 2022, Paul Bigland, “New trains, old trains, and splendid scenery”, in RAIL, number 969, page 57
3. To go with someone as a partner, for example on a formal date.