vaward

English

Etymology

From an aphetism of Anglo-Norman avantwarde, a variant of Old French avant-guarde.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈvɑːwəd/

Noun

vaward (plural vawards)

1. The vanguard.
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book II:

     Thenne Nero had the vaward with the moost party of his peple [...].

   • 1988, Anthony Burgess, Any Old Iron:

     Then they were marched off to the railway station with the band in the vaward playing ‘Have you ever caught your ballocks in a rat trap?’