01 n. 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 sm…
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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.“A braver soldier never couched lance.” — Shak.
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2.
A soldier armed with a lance; a lancer.
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3.
A small iron rod which suspends the core of the mold in casting a shell.(Founding)
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4.
An instrument which conveys the charge of a piece of ordnance and forces it home.(Mil.)
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5.
One of the small paper cases filled with combustible composition, which mark the outlines of a figure.(Pyrotech.)
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6.
A lancet.(Med.)
Phrases & compounds
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 —
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.
Lance snake —
the fer-de-lance.
Stink-fire lance —
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.