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lance

Pronunciation: /lɑːns/

The English word “lance” has 14 meanings listed here.

noun

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

  1. To pierce with a lance, or with any similar weapon.
  2. To open with a lancet; to prick or cut open with a sharp instrument; to pierce.
  3. To throw in the manner of a lance; to lanch.
  4. To steal or swipe.
  5. To move suddenly and quickly.

Etymology

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

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.