avant-courier

== English == === Etymology === From French avant-coureur, with alteration of second element after courier. === Noun === avant-courier (plural avant-couriers) A person dispatched before another person or company, to give notice of his or their approach; a scout or herald. 1808–10, William Hickey, Memoirs of a Georgian Rake, Folio Society 1995, p. 145: Mr Farrer reached Calcutta some time before them, announcing himself as the avant-courier of His Majesty's new court, in which he was to be the leading advocate. ==== Synonyms ==== harbinger (generically): messenger