Original meaning: cut

Phonetic loan, originally from 歬. 歬 depicts washing feet but became used phonetically to mean both "cut" and "in front". An added 刂 (knife) once distinguished 前 as the original form of "cut", but later this too became used phonetically for the current meaning "in front". A later 刀 (knife) continues to distinguish 剪 as the current form of "cut", which left "in front" to become the sole meaning of 前.