2 entries under this word

Pioneer

Pi'o-neer', v. t.

verbtransitive

[imp. & p. p. PIONEERED; p. pr. & vb. n. PIONEERING.] To go before and prepare a way for.

Pī'o-neer', n.

noun

n. [Fr. pionnier, originally a foot-soldier, O. Fr. peonier, Pr. pezonier, a foot-passenger, from O. Fr. peon, pion, Pr. peon, pezon, Sp. peon, It. pedone, from Lat. pes, pedis, foot.]

  1. (Mil.) One whose business is to march with or before an army, to repair the road or clear it of obstructions, work at intrenchments, or form mines for destroying an enemy's works. Bacon.
  2. One who goes before to remove obstructions or prepare the way for another.