Van′guardˊ
,
[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.