In gnu make manual, I would like to suggesting adding the following text in the 10.5.3 Automatic Variables section:
$< The name of the first prerequisite. If the target got its recipe from an implicit rule, this will be the first prerequisite added by the implicit rule (see Implicit Rules). If the target is not from a non-implicit rule, this will be the first prerequisite of the rule containing the recipe if one exists, or alternatively the first prerequisite of the target named in any rules without recipes. Thanks, John