lance 1
— lancelike , adj.
/lans, lahns/ , n. , v. , lanced, lancing .
n.
1. a long wooden shaft with a pointed metal head, used as a weapon by knights and cavalry soldiers in charging.
2. a cavalry soldier armed with such a weapon; lancer.
3. an implement resembling the weapon, as a spear for killing a harpooned whale.
4. ( cap. ) Mil. a U.S. Army surface-to-surface rocket with a range of 47 mi. (75 km) and capable of carrying a tactical nuclear warhead.
5. a lancet.
6. See oxygen lance .
7. Mach.
a. a tube having a nozzle for cleaning furnace walls and other inaccessible surfaces with air, water, or steam.
b. a pipe for directing oxygen onto a heated metal object in order to burn a hole in it, the lance also being consumed so as to add to the heat.
v.t.
8. to open with or as if with a lancet.
9. to pierce with a lance.
10. to cut through (concrete or the like) with an oxygen lance.
[ 1250-1300; ME launce lance lancea (perh. ]
lance 2
/lans, lahns/ , n.
See sand lance .
[ perh. special use of LANCE 1 , from its shape ]