van guard—a guard for a railway van or a motor truck:
- Van guard travels with and guards contents of mail vans.
vanguard—
1. the troops who march at the head of an army:
- The vanguard was composed of chasseurs of the line, hussars, and lancers.
2. the leaders of thought, taste, or opinion in literature, art, etc.:
- It is this vanguard which makes the studio or art theater possible.