Pioneer
early 16th century (as a military term denoting a member of the infantry): from French pionnier ‘foot soldier, pioneer’, Old French paonier, from paon, from Latin pedo, pedon- (see pawn1).
wiktionary
From Middle French pionnier(“originally, a foot soldier”), Old French peonier, from peon(“a foot soldier”) (modern French: pion). See pawn in chess.
etymonline
pioneer (n.)
1520s, "one of a party or company of foot soldiers furnished with digging and cutting equipment who prepare the way for the army," from French pionnier "foot-soldier, military pioneer," from Old French paonier "foot-soldier" (11c.), extended form of peon (see pawn (n.2)). Figurative sense of "a first or early explorer, person who goes first or does something first" is from c. 1600. Related: Pioneers.
pioneer (v.)
"to lead or prepare the way to or for, go before and open (a way)," 1780, from pioneer (n.). Related: Pioneered; pioneering.
