ˈlance-knight Hist.
Forms: see lance n. and knight. Also 6 lance-kneyght, 9 lance-knecht; and see lansquenet.
[ad. G. lanzknecht (lanz = lance n.1), an etymologizing perversion of landsknecht, f. lands, genitive of land land n.1 + knecht servant.
Originally the G. word denoted the mercenary foot-soldiers belonging to the imperial territory, in contradistinction to the Swiss; but it was very early applied in a wider sense; afterwards the etymological association with lance caused it to be restricted to men armed with a lance or similar weapon.]
A mercenary foot-soldier, esp. one armed with a lance or pike.
| 1530 Palsgr. 237/1 Lansknyght, lancequenet. 1550 W. Lynne Carion's Cron. 248 Many Launceknyghtes of the Germayne nation sawe with their eyes that [etc.]. 1552 Huloet, Men bearyng shyldes of siluer, called launce knyghtes, argyraspidæ. 1579 Digges Stratiot. 120 The Lance Kneyghts also encamp always in the fielde very stronglye. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 463 b, Although λογχαιος be nothing els then a greeke word, signifiyng a launceknight. 1598 B. Jonson Ev. Man in Hum. ii. i, Well, now must I practise to get the true garbe of one of these Launce⁓knights. 1606 L. Bryskett Civ. Life 145 The Lansknight and the Switzer vse also the fife at this day with the drum. 1825 Scott Talism. vi, Give him a flagon of Rhenish to drink with his besmirched baaren-hauters and lance-knechts. |
| attrib. 1653 Urquhart Rabelais i. xxxv, Tripet would have traiterously cleft his head with his horsemans sword, or lanse-knight fauchion. |
| transf. c 1626 Dick of Devon iv. i. in Bullen O. Pl. II. 63 The needle lance knights..put so many hookes and eyes to every hose and dubblet. |