lance

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lanced p. pr. & vb. n. Lancing ] 1. To pierce with a lance, or with any similar weapon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Seized the due victim, and with fury lanced
Her back. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To open with a lancet; to pierce; as, to lance a vein or an abscess. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To throw in the manner of a lance. See Lanch. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A lancepesade. [ PJC ]

2. An enlisted member of the United States Marine Corps ranking between a private first class and a corporal. [ PJC ]

3. The lowest rank of corporal; -- a term used in the British military. RHUD [ PJC ]

pos>n. (Zool.) A slender marine fish of the genus Ammodytes, especially Ammodytes tobianus of the English coast; -- called also sand lance. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ OF. lancegaie, corrupted from the same source as E. assagai, under the influence of F. lance lance. See Assagai. ] A kind of spear anciently used. Its use was prohibited by a statute of Richard II. Nares. [ 1913 Webster ]

In his hand a launcegay,
A long sword by his side. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Lance + -let. ] (Zool.) A small fishlike animal (Amphioxus lanceolatus), remarkable for the rudimentary condition of its organs. It is the type of the class Leptocardia. See Amphioxus, Leptocardia. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Like a lance. [ R. ] Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. lanceola a little lance, dim. of lancea lance: cf. F. lancéolaire. ] (Bot.) Lanceolate. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ a. [ L. lanceolatus: cf. F. lancéolé. See Lanceolar. ] (Bot. & Zool.) Rather narrow, tapering to a point at the apex, and sometimes at the base also; as, a lanceolate leaf. [ 1913 Webster ]