Vedette

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /vəˈdɛt/

Definitions

1. A soldier on horseback assigned to patrol or observe in front of the main force ; a prominent or leading performer in a theatrical or entertainment context
2. A cavalry scout who rides ahead to watch for danger or enemies ; a celebrated or principal artist or actor known for outstanding performances
3. An advance mounted guard who provides early warning of enemy approach ; a star figure who is the main attraction in a stage or film production

Etymology: The sentinel on horseback and the star performer share a single ancestor, and the link runs through Italian. "Vedetta" was a lookout tower or watchtower, from the verb "vedere", to see, so the earliest sense was a watch-post rather than a person. Its derivative "vedetta" came to mean a sentry who kept watch from such a post, and French borrowed it as "vedette", where it was used for a mounted soldier posted ahead of an army to scout and report on the enemy. English then borrowed the word from French, keeping the military sense of a horseman stationed as an outpost. The move to the stage came later, when a "vedette" became someone who stood out and was watched, the performer placed at the front of the bill. The image is the same in both senses: a figure posted in front, whose job is to be seen first.

Synonyms: star, celebrity, leading actor, featured performer, notable