noun 1.a groomsman or a bridesmaid.
2.a.a friend who accompanied the bridegroom when he went to bring home the bride.
b.the bridesmaid who escorted the bride to the bridegroom.
Origin: 1585–95; <
Late Latin paranymphus <
Greek paránymphos (masculine and feminine) groomsman, bridesmaid, literally, person beside the bride. See
para-1,
nymph