[1760–70; fore- + hoof]This word is first recorded in the period 1760–70. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: broadcast, genre, icing, lockup, provincialismfore- is a prefix meaning “before” (in space, time, condition, etc.), “front,” “superior,”etc. Other words that use the affix fore- include: forecast, forecastle, forehead, foreman, foretell