1. (n.) A soldier especially expert and well drilled, who takes his place in front of a military company, as a guide for the others in their exercises; a file leader. He originally stood in front of the right wing.

2. (n.) Hence, one who leads the way.

A per se Mahdi ace ancestor announcer antecedent antetype antitype archetype avant-garde bell cow bell mare bellwether biotype born leader boss buccinator bushwhacker champion charismatic leader chief choirmaster choragus classic example commander conductor coryphaeus criterion dean duce epitome explorer file leader forebear foregoer forerunner front runner frontiersman fugler genius genotype groundbreaker guide harbinger head herald higher-up imitatee innovator inspired leader laureate lead lead runner leader leader of men master messenger messiah mirror model nonpareil original pacemaker pacesetter paradigm paragon pathfinder pattern pioneer point precedent precentor precursor predecessor principal prodigy prototype representative ringleader rule ruler scout senior standard standard-bearer star stormy petrel superior superman superstar symphonic conductor the greatest the most top dog torchbearer trailblazer trailbreaker type type species type specimen urtext vanguard vaunt-courier virtuoso voortrekker