A caddie or assistant positioned ahead on a golf course to spot the ball or guide players, or historically a servant sent ahead on a journey.
Compound: 'fore-' + 'caddie' (from Scottish 'cadie,' a hired attendant, possibly from French 'cadet'). Golf term that became standard vocabulary by the 20th century.
In professional golf, the forecaddie is invisible to viewers but crucial to the game—they watch where balls land in rough grass or water, saving players from losing expensive balls. It's a job that's existed for centuries, just called different names in different contexts.
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