escorte

l'escorte (FR N-F) group of men, generally armed, charged with accompanying someone or something important, helping ensure safe passage; any cortege that accompanies someone for the purpose of bringing additional honor to the escortee. First appears in French in 1500, from Italian scorta (act of guiding), scorgere (to guide), Latin excorrigere, corrigere (to correct). (Mirmont)