The plural of forerank; multiple front rows or leading positions in military or organized formations.
From 'fore-' (before, front) + 'ranks' (plural of rank). The plural form referring to multiple forward-positioned lines.
Roman military formations were obsessed with foreranks—the famous testudo (tortoise formation) protected soldiers in the foreranks under shields while the ones behind could fire arrows, turning vulnerable front-liners into protected offensive weapons.
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