Pronunciation: ' vau ̇ - ˌ o ̇ rd, - ˌ wo ̇ rd
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English vauntwarde, vanwarde, vaward, from Anglo-French *vantwarde, vantgarde vanguard
Date: 14th century
archaic : the foremost part : FOREFRONT <the vaward of our youth ― Shakespeare>