Etymology

pioneer

P3I1O1N1E1E1R1

Today it means: One who goes before, as into the wilderness, preparing the way for others to follow. Full definition →

First used since 2013Middle French pionnier ← Old French peonier ← Late Latin pedōnem
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The story

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ped-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*pṓds
  3. Proto-Italic*pets
  4. Latinpēs
  5. Late Latinpedōnem
  6. Old Frenchpeon
  7. Old Frenchpeonier
  8. Middle Frenchpionnier
  9. English todaypioneer

From Middle French pionnier (“originally, a foot soldier”), Old French peonier, from peon (“a foot soldier”) (modern French: pion). See pawn (in chess).

First known use, by meaning

  • since 2013 A person born on or before 31 December 1949 and possessing Singapore citizenship on or before 31 December 1986, given this status and certain benefits to recognise their contributions to Singapore's early development.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.