fadder

Etymology
From fsv. fadder, middle north German. vadder(e), younger form of gevadder, corresponding to old high German. gevatero (g. gevatter) and old English gefædera, which have been formed from ge-, co-, and old high German. fater (vater), and old Eng. fæder, fader. The word is a translation of middle Latin compater, from com-, together with, and. pater. This term, which means the parenthood shared with the parents, also included the idea of the spiritual kinship which was thought to go with the position as fadder (conf. godfather, godmother).

Noun

 * 1) A man present at the christening of a baby who promises to help raise the child in a Christian manner; a male godparent who sponsors the baptism of a child.
 * 2) Coauthor or -creator of a company or the like, or a literary product or an idea, almost exclusively in the expression "stå fadder (åt, för)": as a participant or prompter take part in the creation of something; vouch for something.
 * 3) A person who helps somebody in certain situations, for instance in a school or workplace.