H'ARBINGER, noun [See Harbor. harbinger is properly a person who goes to provide harbor or lodgings for those that follow.] 1. In England, an officer of the king's household who rides a day's journey before the court when traveling, to provide lodgings and other accommodations. 2. A forerunner; a precursor; that which precedes and gives notice of the expected arrival of something else.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI