lance — English Dictionary

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Language

lance

Pronunciations (4)

Noun

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

Examples

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

More examples (1)

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

Examples

What will you do, good greybeard? Break a lance, And run a-tilt at Death within a chair?
A spear or harpoon used by whalers and fishermen.
A soldier armed with a lance; a lancer.
An instrument which conveys the charge of a piece of ordnance and forces it home.
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.
A lancet.
A piece in the game of shogi that can move directly forward any number of squares.

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

Examples

Seiz'd the due Victim, and with Fury lanch'd Her Back
To open with a lancet; to prick or cut open with a sharp instrument; to pierce.

Examples

to lance a vein or an abscess
To throw in the manner of a lance; to lanch.
To steal or swipe.
Usage
- Informal
Examples

He lanced my drink and spiked it!
To move suddenly and quickly.

Word forms

lanceslanceslancinglancedlanced