Dictionary

foreganger en · NOUN

Etymology

From Middle English forganger, forgangere, from Old English *foregangere, from foregangan (“to go before, precede, go in front of, project, excel”), equivalent to fore- + ganger. Cognate with Scots foregangare (“a foregoer”), Dutch voorganger (“a predecessor, progenitor”), German Vorgänger (“a predecessor, precursor”), Swedish föregångare (“a forerunner, precursor, progenitor”).

Meanings

1. (archaic, rare) One who or that which goes before; a forerunner; a harbinger; a predecessor.
2. A short rope grafted on a harpoon, to which a longer line may be attached.
   • The foreganger is most commonly formed of white or untarred rope , which is stronger and more flexible than tarred rope , consequently more easily extended when the harpoon is thrown 1820, William Scoresby, The whale-fishery:

Forms