lancepesade, lanceprisado Hist.
(lɑːnspɪˈzɑːd, -æ-, ˌlænsprɪˈzɑːdəʊ)
Forms: α. 6 lancepezzade, 7 lance-, lans(e)pesade, -ado, lanspasata, 8 lancepesata, lanspessade. Cf. anspessade. β. 7 lancepers-, -pres-, -prez-, -pris, -prizade, -ado, lans-, launcepres-, -prisade, -ado, 9 lanceprisade.
[a. F. lancepessade (now anspessade) ‘lancepesado, the meanest officer in a foot-company’ (Cotgr.), ad. It. lancia spezzata, lit. ‘broken lance’ (spezzare to break in pieces, ‘dispiece’, f. s- = dis- + pezza piece). For the quasi-Sp. ending of some forms see -ado; the forms with r are due to association with Sp. presa grip, clutch.
The It. word is recorded only in the senses ‘one of a prince's bodyguard’ and (in pl.) ‘soldiers of a superior class not included in the ordinary companies’; Florio (s.v. Spezzato) renders it ‘a demi-lance, light horseman’; Italian etymologists suggest that the primary sense was ‘one whose lance has often been shivered in warfare, one who has seen much service’ (Tommaseo s.v. Spezzato). The peculiar Fr. and Eng. sense (= lance-corporal) can be accounted for only conjecturally, but it may have arisen from the practice of appointing specially experienced privates, in emergencies, to act as officers of the lowest rank.]
a. (See quot. 1578.) b. A non-commissioned officer of the lowest grade; a lance-corporal.
| 1578 Fenton Guicciard. ii. 104 The Marquis..being followed with a valiant companye of younge gentlemen and Lancepezzades (these are braue and proued souldiers interteyned aboue the ordinary companies). 1605 Tryall Chev. iii. i. in Bullen O. Pl. III. 305 The tother Launcepresado. [Applied derisively by a soldier to an officer of high rank.] 1611 Chapman May Day Plays 1873 II. 390 Serjeant Piemeat, Corporall Conny, Lanceprizado Larke. 1617 Middleton & Rowley Fair Quarrel iv. iv, I will learne to roare, and still maintain the name of captaine over these Launcepresadoes. 1625 Markham Soldier's Accid. 7 The Lanspresado..in the Corporalls absence, as vpon a guard or otherwise, doth all the Corporalls duties. 1708 Lond. Gaz. No. 4420/7, 10 Serjeants, 10 Corporals, 10 Lanspessades. 1758 J. Watson Milit. Dict. (ed. 5) Lancepesade, an inferior Officer, subordinate to the Corporal, to assist him in his Duty, and supply his Place in his Absence. 1826 Scott Woodst. xxxiv, Thou, Zerubbabel Robins, I know wilt be their lance-prisade. |
c. transf.
| a 1605 Polwart Flyting w. Montgomerie 795 Beld bisset! marmissed! lansprezed to the lownes! 1622 Massinger Virg. Mart. ii. i, This Bacchus, who is..lanceprezade to red noses. a 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Lanspresado, he that comes into Company with but Two pence in his Pocket. |
¶ In the Italian sense (see above) with corrupt It. form.
| 1687 Lond. Gaz. No. 2250/3 His Eminencies own Equipage consisted of..12 Pages, as many Lanspasatas or Gentlemen, walking on foot by him, 12 more on Horse-back [etc.]. |