Etymology: Representing Anglo-Norman vant-, aphetic  <  avant-  avant- comb. form: see vantbrace n., vantguard n., vantward n.In a number of compounds the t   was elided, as vambrace n., vanchase n., van-courier n., vanguard n., etc. Before labials the n   by assimilation became m  , as in vambrace n., vampey n., vamplate n., vamward n.; and a further reduction appears in vamure  vaumure n.   and vaward n.   The Anglo-Norman variant vaunt-   is also very fully represented in English forms: see vaunt-chase n., vaunt-courier n., etc.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1916; most recently modified version published online June 2020).