van

1. a medium-sized motor vehicle, typically without side windows in the rear part, for transporting goods.

   delivery vans can't pull in and are holding up the traffic behind them

   a van driver

early 19th century: shortening of caravan.

1. the foremost part of a group of people moving or preparing to move forwards, especially the foremost division of an advancing military force.

   in the van were the foremost chiefs and some of the warriors astride horses

early 17th century: abbreviation of vanguard.

1. a winnowing fan.
2. a bird's wing.

late Middle English: dialect variant of fan¹, probably reinforced by Old French van or Latin vannus .

noun

another term for advantage.

1920s: abbreviation.