† ˈvantward Obs.
Also 3 vantwarde, 4–5 vauntward(e.
[Aphetic form of avantward; cf. vantguard. See also vanward n., and vamward, vaward.]
The vanguard of an army.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 7478 Hor vantwarde was to broke, þat me miȝte wiþinne hom wende. Ibid. 9006 Þe vantwardes hom mette verst, as riȝt was to done. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xx. 94 Elde þe hore he was in þe vauntwarde, And bare þe banere bifor deth, by riȝte he it claymed. c 1450 Contin. Brut ii. (1908) 320 Sere Bertram Cleykyn, þat was..chyueteyn of þe vauntward of þe bataill. 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. viii. xiii, He sette..the duc of York in the vauntward. 1557 K. Arthur (Copland) i. xv, Lyonses and Phariaunce had the vaunt warde. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. i. 794 They marched forth in the Vantward: they returned home in the Rereward. |