English Dictionary: Lance Corporal | by the DICT Development Group |
4 results for Lance Corporal | |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
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From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Lance \Lance\, n. [OE. lance, F. lance, fr. L. lancea; cf. Gr. [?]. Cf. {Launch}.] 1. A weapon of war, consisting of a long shaft or handle and a steel blade or head; a spear carried by horsemen, and often decorated with a small flag; also, a spear or harpoon used by whalers and fishermen. A braver soldier never couched lance. --Shak. 2. A soldier armed with a lance; a lancer. 3. (Founding) A small iron rod which suspends the core of the mold in casting a shell. 4. (Mil.) An instrument which conveys the charge of a piece of ordnance and forces it home. 5. (Pyrotech.) One of the small paper cases filled with combustible composition, which mark the outlines of a figure. {Free lance}, in the Middle Ages, and subsequently, a knight or roving soldier, who was free to engage for any state or commander that purchased his services; hence, a person who assails institutions or opinions on his own responsibility without regard to party lines or deference to authority. {Lance bucket} (Cavalry), a socket attached to a saddle or stirrup strap, in which to rest the but of a lance. {Lance corporal}, same as {Lancepesade}. {Lance knight}, a lansquenet. --B. Jonson. {Lance snake} (Zo[94]l.), the fer-de-lance. {Stink-fire lance} (Mil.), a kind of fuse filled with a composition which burns with a suffocating odor; -- used in the counter operations of miners. {To break a lance}, to engage in a tilt or contest. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Lancepesade \Lance`pe*sade"\, n. [F. lancepessade, lanspessade, anspessade, It. lancia spezzata a broken lance or demilance, a demilance roan, a light horseman, bodyguard.] An assistant to a corporal; a private performing the duties of a corporal; -- called also {lance corporal}. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Corporal \Cor"po*ral\ (k[ocir]r"p[osl]*r[ait]l), n. [Corrupted fr. F. caporal, It. caporale, fr. capo head, chief, L. caput. See {Chief}, and cf. {Caporal}.] (Mil.) A noncommissioned officer, next below a sergeant. In the United States army he is the lowest noncommissioned officer in a company of infantry. He places and relieves sentinels. {Corporal's guard}, a detachment such as would be in charge of a corporal for guard duty, etc.; hence, derisively, a very small number of persons. {Lance corporal}, an assistant corporal on private's pay. --Farrow. {Ship's corporal} (Naut.), a petty officer who assists the master at arms in his various duties. |