lance

Meanings

Noun

• A weapon of war, consisting of a long shaft or handle and a steel blade or head; a spear carried by horsemen.
• A wooden spear, sometimes hollow, used in jousting or tilting, designed to shatter on impact with the opposing knight’s armour.
• 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.

Verb

• To pierce with a lance, or with any similar weapon.
• To open with a lancet; to pierce
• To throw in the manner of a lance; to lanch.

Origin

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