—n.
1 a a long weapon with a wooden shaft and a pointed steel head, used by a horseman in charging. b a similar weapon used for spearing a fish, killing a harpooned whale, etc.
2 a metal pipe supplying oxygen to burn metal.
3 = LANCER.
—v.tr.
1 Surgery prick or cut open with a lancet.
2 pierce with a lance.
3 poet. fling; launch.
Phrases and idioms:
break a lance (usu. foll. by for, with) argue. lance-bombardier a rank in the Royal Artillery corresponding to lance-corporal in the infantry. lance-corporal the lowest rank of NCO in the Army. lance-jack Brit. sl. a lance-corporal or lance-bombardier. lance-sergeant a corporal acting as sergeant. lance-snake = FER DE LANCE.
Etymology: ME f. OF lancier f. L lancea: lance-corporal on analogy of obs. lancepesade lowest grade of NCO ult. f. It. lancia spezzata broken lance
Useful english dictionary. 2012.