What is the literal translation of "avant-garde"?

Search: avant garde

Why: It was in the Northwest in-flight magazine, NWA WorldTraveler. The actual definitions are:

n. A group active in the invention and application of new techniques in a given field, especially in the arts.

adj. Of, relating to, or being part of an innovative group, especially one in the arts: avant-garde painters; an avant-garde theater piece.

Answer: This one is a big circle:

1. avant-garde: French, from Old French, vanguard.
2. vanguard: (The foremost or leading position in a trend or movement) Middle English vandgard, from avaunt garde, from Old French : avaunt, before (from Latin abante; see advance) + garde, guard (from garder; see guard)
3. advance: Middle English avauncen, from Old French avauncer, from Vulgar Latin *abantiāre, from Latin abante, from before : ab-, ab- + ante, before.
4. guard: Middle English garden, from Old French garder, guarder, of Germanic origin.

Source: Answers.com

The More You Know: garden: Middle English gardin, from Old North French, from gart, of Germanic origin.