n. [ OE. lance, F. lance, fr. L. lancea; cf. Gr. lo`gchh. Cf. Launch. ] 1. A weapon of war, consisting of a long shaft or handle and a steel blade or head; a spear carried by horsemen, and often decorated with a small flag; also, a spear or harpoon used by whalers and fishermen. [ 1913 Webster ]

A braver soldier never couched lance. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A soldier armed with a lance; a lancer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Founding) A small iron rod which suspends the core of the mold in casting a shell. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Mil.) An instrument which conveys the charge of a piece of ordnance and forces it home. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Pyrotech.) One of the small paper cases filled with combustible composition, which mark the outlines of a figure. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Med.) A lancet. [ PJC ]

Free lance, in the Middle Ages, and subsequently, a knight or roving soldier, who was free to engage for any state or commander that purchased his services; hence, a person who assails institutions or opinions on his own responsibility without regard to party lines or deference to authority. See also freelance, n. and a., and freelancer. --
Lance bucket (Cavalry), a socket attached to a saddle or stirrup strap, in which to rest the but of a lance. --
Lance corporal, same as Lancepesade. --
Lance knight, a lansquenet. B. Jonson. --
Lance snake (Zool.), the fer-de-lance. --
Stink-fire lance (Mil.), a kind of fuse filled with a composition which burns with a suffocating odor; -- used in the counter operations of miners. --
To break a lance, to engage in a tilt or contest. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lanced p. pr. & vb. n. Lancing ] 1. To pierce with a lance, or with any similar weapon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Seized the due victim, and with fury lanced
Her back. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To open with a lancet; to pierce; as, to lance a vein or an abscess. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To throw in the manner of a lance. See Lanch. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A lancepesade. [ PJC ]

2. An enlisted member of the United States Marine Corps ranking between a private first class and a corporal. [ PJC ]

3. The lowest rank of corporal; -- a term used in the British military. RHUD [ PJC ]

pos>n. (Zool.) A slender marine fish of the genus Ammodytes, especially Ammodytes tobianus of the English coast; -- called also sand lance. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ OF. lancegaie, corrupted from the same source as E. assagai, under the influence of F. lance lance. See Assagai. ] A kind of spear anciently used. Its use was prohibited by a statute of Richard II. Nares. [ 1913 Webster ]

In his hand a launcegay,
A long sword by his side. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Lance + -let. ] (Zool.) A small fishlike animal (Amphioxus lanceolatus), remarkable for the rudimentary condition of its organs. It is the type of the class Leptocardia. See Amphioxus, Leptocardia. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Like a lance. [ R. ] Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. lanceola a little lance, dim. of lancea lance: cf. F. lancéolaire. ] (Bot.) Lanceolate. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ a. [ L. lanceolatus: cf. F. lancéolé. See Lanceolar. ] (Bot. & Zool.) Rather narrow, tapering to a point at the apex, and sometimes at the base also; as, a lanceolate leaf. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. lancepessade, lanspessade, anspessade, It. lancia spezzata a broken lance or demilance, a demilance roan, a light horseman, bodyguard. ] An assistant to a corporal; a private performing the duties of a corporal; -- called also lance corporal. [ Obsolete ] [ 1913 Webster ]