English word foremost comes from Proto-Germanic *fer-, Proto-Germanic *fr-, Proto-Germanic *-umistaz, and later Proto-Germanic *frumistaz (Foremost, first.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *fer- | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | |
| *fr- | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | |
| *-umistaz | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | |
| *frumistaz | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Foremost, first. |
| fyrmest | Old English (ca. 450-1100) (ang) | First First. |
| foremost | English (eng) | (nautical) closest to the bow. First, either in time or in space. Of a higher rank or position; paramount In front. Prominently forward. |