lance

/læns/

/lɑns/

Other forms: lances; lancing; lanced

A warrior during the Middle Ages most often carried a lance, or a long, pointed spear, as a weapon.

Throughout history, soldiers mounted on horseback have often carried some variation of a lance — something long and sharp for jabbing at enemy warriors. Lances were carried as far back as ancient Roman armies and as recently as Plains Indians after they were introduced to horses in the eighteenth century. The Latin root word, lancea , means "light spear" or "Spanish spear."

Definitions of lance

1. noun

   a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon
   synonyms: shaft, spear

   types:

   assagai, assegai

   the slender spear of the Bantu-speaking people of Africa

   javelin

   a spear thrown as a weapon or in competitive field events

   trident

   a spear with three prongs

   type of:

   arm, weapon, weapon system

   any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
2. noun

   an implement with a shaft and barbed point used for catching fish
   synonyms: fishgig, fizgig, gig, spear

   types:

   harpoon

   a spear with a shaft and barbed point for throwing; used for catching large fish or whales; a strong line is attached to it

   leister

   a spear with three or more prongs; used for spearing fish (especially salmon)

   type of:

   implement

   instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end
3. noun

   a surgical knife with a pointed double-edged blade; used for punctures and small incisions
   synonyms: lancet

   type of:

   surgical knife

   a very sharp knife used in surgery
4. verb

   pierce with a lance, as in a knights' fight
   type of:

   pierce, thrust

   penetrate or cut through with a sharp instrument
5. verb

   open by piercing with a lancet
   “lance a boil”

   type of:

   open, open up

   cause to open or to become open
6. verb

   move quickly, as if by cutting one's way
   “Planes lanced towards the shore”

   type of:

   go, locomote, move, travel

   change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically