van English · revision 2962

+ English has two main words spelled ''van'': the front of an army, short for ''vanguard'', and the covered vehicle, short for ''caravan''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /væn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|front of an army}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=clipping|attested=1610|origins=fro avant}}

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+ ==Etymology==

+ The front is a shortening of [[vanguard]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) which is from Old French avant-garde.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The front part of an advancing group: 1610, in Beaumont and Fletcher's ''The Scornful Lady'',^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) about 1600 in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster dates it 1607.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The leaders of any movement are called its van from about 1600.^(Etymonline) The foremost division of an army or fleet is from 1633.^(OED 1989) The phrase ''in the van'', “in the forefront”, is common.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1607 – first Merriam-Webster date.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1610 – the front of an advancing group.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1633 – the foremost division of an army or fleet.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The foremost division of an army or fleet; the [[vanguard]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The leaders of a movement or trend: ''in the van of reform''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ {{homograph|2|vehicle}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=clipping|attested=1829}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The vehicle is a shortening of [[caravan]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) a word of Persian origin.^(Etymonline) The Century Dictionary suggested that caravan was felt as a “carry-van”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A covered wagon or truck: 1829, in Bulwer-Lytton's ''The Disowned''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ At first it was used especially for moving furniture and household goods.^(Etymonline) A closed railway carriage for luggage or for the guard, the ''guard's van'', is British.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) Later it was a motor vehicle with a covered rear part, used by tradesmen for delivery and service, and also by hippies.^(Etymonline) The verb, “to carry in a van”, is from 1840.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1829 – a covered wagon.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1840 – verb, to carry in a van.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An enclosed motor vehicle with rear or side doors, for carrying goods or people.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A covered truck or wagon, as for moving furniture.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(British)'' A closed railway carriage for luggage or mail, or for the [[guard]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To carry in a van.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[minivan]]

+ * [[campervan]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vane]]

+ * [[vanguard]]

+ * [[caravan]]

+ * [[avant-garde]]

+ * [[advance]]

+ * [[fan]]

+ * [[winnow]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A third, older ''van'' (mid-15th century) is a winnowing basket or fan, a southern and western variant of [[fan]], perhaps reinforced by French van and Latin vannus;^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) in Suffolk dialect it was a flat basket for winnowing corn.^(Wright 1898) In poetry it could mean a wing, from 1667.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}