lances

n. steel-tipped wooden spear carried by knights and cavalry soldiers; sharp pointed tool which resembles a lance (i.e. harpoon)

v. cut with a lancet, cut open with a scalpel; pierce with a lance

The term lance has become a catchall for a variety of different pole weapons based on the spear. The name is derived from lancea, Roman auxiliaries' javelin, although according to the OED, the word may be of Iberian origin. A lance in the original sense is a light throwing spear, or javelin. The English verb to launch "fling, hurl, throw" is derived from the term (via Old French lancier), as well as the more rare or poetical to lance. Paradoxically, the term from the 17th century came to refer specifically to spears not thrown, used for thrusting by heavy cavalry, and especially in jousting. A thrusting spear which is used by infantry is usually referred to as a pike. The first use of the lance in this sense was made by the Sarmatian and Parthian cataphractes from ca. the 3rd century BC.
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Noun
1. a long pointed rod used as a weapon
(synonym) spear, shaft
(hypernym) weapon, arm, weapon system
(hyponym) assegai, assagai
(part-meronym) barb
2. an implement with a shaft and barbed point used for catching fish
(synonym) spear, gig, fizgig, fishgig
(hypernym) implement
(hyponym) harpoon
(member-holonym) fishing gear, tackle, fishing tackle, fishing rig, rig
3. a surgical knife with a pointed double-edged blade; used for punctures and small incisions
(synonym) lancet
(hypernym) surgical knife
Verb
1. move quickly, as if by cutting one's way; "Planes lanced towards the shore"
(hypernym) travel, go, move, locomote
2. pierce with a lance, as in a knights' fight
(hypernym) pierce, thrust
(derivation) spear, shaft
3. open by piercing with a lancet; "lance a boil"
(hypernym) open, open up
(derivation) lancet

n. spear, lance, hose

v. send up, launch, shoot; issue, eject, send, emit; evolve, fling, throw; initiate, put up, bring out; throw away, cast, let fly; sling, slip

n. throw, cast; incident, affair

v. throw, cast; send; sling; aim; shoot; pitch; release; launch; dart, dash