Etymology Map
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Escort

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a person accompanying another for protection

Where does the word "escort" come from? It comes from Latin corrigere, passing through Italian before entering English (1570s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
corrigere
Latin · ancient
"to correct, lead"
'cor-', together, plus 'regere', to direct
2
Stage 2 of 3
scorta
Italian · 1500s
"armed guard"
an armed guard; came into English via French 'escorte'
3
Stage 3 of 3
escort
English · 1570s
"armed guard"
later any companion
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Read the full story

Escort’s story begins in Latin: corrigere meant “to correct, lead.” 'cor-', together, plus 'regere', to direct. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Italian as scorta. An armed guard; came into English via French 'escorte'. It reached English by 1570s as escort. Later any companion. Today, escort means a person accompanying another for protection.