noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French & Old Italian; Middle French lancepessade, from Old Italian lancia spezzata battle-trained or seasoned soldier, select soldier, literally, broken lance, from lancia lance (from Latin lancea ) + spezzata, feminine of spezzato, past participle of spezzare to break into pieces, from s- dis- (from Latin dis- ) + pėzza piece, from Medieval Latin petia — more at piece
obsolete : lance corporal