lance

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lance sb. XIII. —(O)F. :- L. lancea, of alien orig. Lance corporal (XVIII) was based on synon. †lancepesade— F. †lancespessade— It. lancia spezzata lit. ‘broken lance’; lance sergeant (XIX) was analogical.
So lance vb. fling, hurl; (dial.) spring, bound; pierce, make incision in XIV. —(O)F. lancer, †-ier. lancer soldier armed with a lance. XVI. — F. lancier.

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