A weapon of war, consisting of a long shaft or handle and a steel blade or head; a spear carried by horsemen.
"The knight raised his lance high before charging at the enemy lines."
In plain English: A lance is a long, pointed spear used by soldiers on horseback to attack enemies from a distance.
"The soldiers carried long lances into battle."
Usage: As a noun, "lance" refers specifically to the long polearm used historically in jousting rather than modern firearms. When describing an attack on foot soldiers, use this term only if you mean they were struck by cavalry weapons; otherwise, choose a more general word like spear or thrust.
pierce with a lance, as in a knights' fight
"The knight swung his sword to protect himself from an enemy who tried to lance him through the chest plate."
To pierce with a lance, or with any similar weapon.
"The knight raised his shield to protect himself as an enemy horseman tried to lance him from behind."
In plain English: To lance something means to make a small cut into it, usually with a sharp tool, so that liquid can come out or air can get in.
"The doctor used a sterile lance to extract fluid from his swollen knee."
A patronymic surname, from given names.
"His family name Lance is a patronymic surname derived from his great-grandfather's given name."
The word entered English via Middle English and Old French as a direct borrowing of the Latin term lancea. Its meaning has remained consistent throughout its history, referring to the long spear used in warfare.