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lance

noun

  1. pole weapon that normally has a peak
L23982 on Wikidata ↗

verb

  1. pierce
L23983 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /lɑːns/ / /læns/

name

Etymology: The surname is derived from a medieval given name Lanzo, short form of names beginning with the Germanic element *land; see land. Doublet of Lanzo.

  1. A surname originating as a patronymic.
  2. A male given name from the Germanic languages; by folk etymology associated with a lance.
  3. A male given name from the Germanic languages; by folk etymology associated with a lance.

noun

Etymology: From Middle English launce, from Old French lance, from Latin lancea.

  1. A weapon of war, consisting of a long shaft or handle and a steel blade or head; a spear carried by horsemen.

    Thy brother’s blood the thirsty earth hath drunk, Broach’d with the steely point of Clifford’s lance[…]

    The head of the lance was commonly of the leaf form, and sometimes approached that of the lozenge; it was very seldom barbed, although this variety, together with the others, appears upon the Bayeux Tapestry.

  2. A wooden spear, sometimes hollow, used in jousting or tilting, designed to shatter on impact with the opposing knight’s armour.

    What will you do, good greybeard? Break a lance, And run a-tilt at Death within a chair?

  3. A spear or harpoon used by whalers and fishermen.
  4. A soldier armed with a lance; a lancer.
  5. An instrument which conveys the charge of a piece of ordnance and forces it home.
  6. A small iron rod which suspends the core of the mold in casting a shell.
  7. One of the small paper cases filled with combustible composition, which mark the outlines of a figure.
  8. A lancet.
  9. A piece in the game of shogi that can move directly forward any number of squares.

verb

Etymology: From Middle English launce, from Old French lance, from Latin lancea.

  1. To pierce with a lance, or with any similar weapon.

    Seiz'd the due Victim, and with Fury lanch'd Her Back

  2. To open with a lancet; to prick or cut open with a sharp instrument; to pierce.

    to lance a vein or an abscess

  3. To throw in the manner of a lance; to lanch.
  4. to steal or swipe

    He lanced my drink and spiked it!

  5. To move suddenly and quickly.