'vanguard' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'avant-garde', where 'avant' meant 'before' and 'garde' meant 'guard'.

'avant-garde' transformed into the Middle English word 'vauntgard', and eventually became the modern English word 'vanguard'.

Initially, it meant 'the front part of an army', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'leading position in a movement or trend'.