lance
UK: lɑːns | US: læns
n. a long weapon with a pointed tip, used by cavalry or in jousting
vt. to pierce or cut with a lance
vt. (medical) to make a small incision, especially to drain fluid
The word "lance" traces back to the Latin lancea, meaning "light spear" or "javelin," likely borrowed from a pre-Latin Iberian or Celtic source. The root lanc- conveys sharpness or piercing action, preserved in related words like "lancet" (a surgical knife). Over time, "lance" evolved from a general term for throwing weapons to specifically denote the long, thrusting spear used by medieval knights. The silent -e reflects Old French influence, where final vowels were often retained in spelling but dropped in pronunciation.
The knight lowered his lance and charged at full speed.
Surgeons once used lances to drain abscesses.
The museum displayed a 15th-century lance with intricate engravings.
She skillfully lanced the boil to relieve the pressure.
In jousting tournaments, lances were often tipped to prevent fatal injuries.