lance
UK[lɑːns]US[læns]
n
A long weapon with a pointed metal head, used by a horseman in charging.
n
A similar instrument used for spearing fish, or as a surgical tool.
v
To pierce or cut open with a sharp instrument, especially in a medical procedure.
Etymology
The word 'lance' entered English in the 13th century from Old French 'lance', which itself derived from the Latin 'lancea', meaning a light spear or javelin. The ultimate origin of 'lancea' is likely pre-Latin, possibly from a Celtic or Iberian source, reflecting the weapon's use by ancient peoples of Western Europe. The term's journey from a specific military weapon to a broader category of pointed instruments, including surgical tools, demonstrates a classic path of semantic specialization and generalization based on the core concept of a piercing implement.
Analysis
The word 'lance' is a simplex loanword from Old French. It does not contain separable, meaningful morphemes within its modern English spelling.
Examples
The medieval knight lowered his lance and charged at full speed.
The surgeon will lance the boil to drain the infection.
Fishermen in the region use a traditional hand-held lance to catch large fish.