A pioneer (pronounce /ˌpаɪəˈnɪər/) is a person who is one of the first to do something. A pioneer may settle previously uninhabited territory, or open up new areas of thought or research. The word is derived from the French language (French: pionnier), from Old French peonier, foot soldier, from the root 'peon', in turn derived from pedn-, from Late Latin, "one who has broad feet". It was probably brought into English use by Captain George Smith who defines it as