Main Entry: ¹har·bin·ger

Pronunciation: \ˈhär-bən-jər\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English herbergere, from Anglo-French, host, from herberge camp, lodgings, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German heriberga

Date: 14th century

1 archaic : a person sent ahead to provide lodgings
2 a : one that pioneers in or initiates a major change : precursor b : one that presages or foreshadows what is to come

synonyms see forerunner