lansquenet

Meaning

Noun

• Any of a class of German mercenaries of the 15th and 16th centuries, most of whom were pikemen and foot soldiers.
• A gambling card game in which the dealer is given an initial card and the players another; cards are then turned up until the value (rank) of one of those cards is met.

Origin

• Borrowed from French lansquenet, from German Landsknecht, from Land + Knecht. Landsknecht.