vaward

noun

va·​ward ˈvau̇-ˌȯrd 

-ˌwȯrd

archaic

: the foremost part : forefront

the vaward of our youth

—William Shakespeare

Word History

Etymology

Middle English vauntwarde, vanwarde, vaward, borrowed from Anglo-French *vantwarde, vantgarde vanguard

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above