[f. FORE- pref. + RIDER; = Ger. vorreiter. Cf. FORRIDEL.] One who rides in front; esp. † a. one of the vanguard; † b. a scout; c. an outrider or postillion; † d. a harbinger.

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c. 1470.  Henry the Minstrel, Wallace, III. 76. Thair for rydar was past till Ayr agayne.

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1494.  Fabyan, Chron. VI. clxiii. 156. Ye fore rydars yt put themselfe in prese with theyr longe and sharpe launcys to wynne the firste brunte of the feelde.

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1513.  Douglas, Æneis, XIII. Proloug, 20.

        And Esperus in the west wyth bemis brycht
Vpspringis, as forridar of the nycht.

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1548.  Hall, Chron., Rich. III. (an. 3), 55. When therle of Richmond knewe by his forriders that the kyng was so nere embattayled, he rode about his armye, from ranke to ranke, from wyng so wyng, geuyng comfortable wordes to all men.

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1601.  F. Tate, Househ. Ord. Edw. II., § 56 (1876), 43. There shalbe also xx charetters, & each of them shal have a fore-rider; which charetters & fore-riders shal drive the charettes, & keepe the horses.

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1888.  Pall Mall G., 8 Oct., 5/2. Then the mounted foreriders; and then the Emperor’s carriage.

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