lance meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

lance

noun

UK /lɑːns/ · US /læns/

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

9 senses

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[…]c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii], line 15:
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.1909, Charles Henry Ashdown, European Arms & Armor, page 65:

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?1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], line 49:

Fishing, Hobbies, Lifestyle A spear or harpoon used by whalers and fishermen.

Government, Military, Politics, War A soldier armed with a lance; a lancer.

Government, Military, Politics, War An instrument which conveys the charge of a piece of ordnance and forces it home.

Engineering, Metallurgy, Natural sciences, Physical sciences A small iron rod which suspends the core of the mold in casting a shell.

One of the small paper cases filled with combustible composition, which mark the outlines of a figure.

Medicine, Sciences A lancet.

A piece in the game of shogi that can move directly forward any number of squares.

Derived terms: 39 terms
break a lance, break one's lance, demilance, fer-de-lance, fire lance, freelance, hand lance, hand-lance, lancebill, lance bombardier, lance bucket, lance corporal, lance-corporal, lancefish, lance fish, lancehead, lance-jack, lance knight, lance-knight, lanceless, lancelike, lanceman, lance-ovate, lancepod, lancer, lance rest, lance sergeant, lance skink, lance snake, lancewood, lanciform, microlance, oxygen lance, oxylance, sand lance, stink-fire lance, thermal lance, thermic lance, the tongue wounds more than a lance
Related terms: lancet

verb

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

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

Seiz'd the due Victim, and with Fury lanch'd Her Back1700, [John] Dryden, “Theodore and Honoria, from Boccace”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 268:

Medicine, Sciences To open with a lancet; to prick or cut open with a sharp instrument; to pierce.

To throw in the manner of a lance; to lanch.

Informal To steal or swipe.

To move suddenly and quickly.