Obs. Also avaunt-, avawm-, awaward. [a. ONF. avantwarde, = central F. avant-guarde, now avant-garde: cf. ARREARWARD. Aphetized in 13th c. as vauntwarde (1297), vaumwarde (1330), vauwarde (1401), VAWARD (1435–1625, common in Shaks.), VANWARD.] = AVANT-GARDE, VAN-GUARD.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XIII. 169. Thar awaward ruschit was.
c. 1440. Morte Arth., 324. I salle have the avanttwarde wytterly my selvene. Ibid., 3169. The avawmwarde voydez theire horsez.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., ccxliv. 298. That he wold graunte hym that day the auauntward in his bataylle.
