VANGUARD

vanguard. Vanguard, n. the front or first line of an army in array

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Van″guard′ (?), n. [[For vantguard, avantguard, F. avant-garde; avant before, fore + garde guard. See Avant, Ab-,Ante-, and Guard, and cf. Advance, Vamp, Van of an army, Vaward.]] (Mil.) The troops who march in front of an army; the advance guard; the van.