[F. avant before, cogn. with Pr. avant, It. avanti:—L. abante, f. ab from + ante before. See AVAUNT. The t, which was pronounced in OF., was retained much longer in English. In words in early use ava(u)nt was worn down to vant-, van-, and sometimes to vaw-, va-.]
In a few combinations, partly French, partly hybrid; as † avantalour [AFr.], one who goes before; † avant-darter, transl. L. antepīlānus; avant-fossé [Fr.], the ditch on the outer side of a counterscarp, dug at the foot of the glacis; avant-peach [F. avant-pêche], an early variety of peach. See also AVANT-BRACE, -COURIER, etc.
1601. Tate, Househ. Ord. Ed. II., § 90. Their shalbe a foregoer [F. avantalour] in the kinges houshold … No man shalbe avant alour who hath forjured the Court.
1600. Holland, Livy, VIII. viii. 286. This battaillon … they called Antepilani (avant-darters).
1611. Cotgr., Avant-pesche, th’ Auant-peach or hastie peach.
1719. London & Wise, Compl. Gard., 283. The Avant Peaches, or Forward Peaches.
