An archaic or regional term for a leader, scout, or one who goes before a group, possibly related to gang or gaggle movements.
Likely from 'fore-' (before) and an obsolete root related to 'gauge' or 'gager' (one who measures or leads). May derive from Middle English gang-leader terminology.
This is a fascinating ghost-word—it barely appears in surviving texts, but it likely meant a leader who 'gaged' or measured the way forward, showing how occupational titles in English often combined 'fore-' with action verbs.
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